The Barcelona coach, Ronald Koeman, criticized this Friday the lack of clarity that, according to him, there has been on the part of the board about his continuity in the Barça bench: «In the last part of the season I have not noticed the confidence of the club ».
“We have not yet discussed the future with the president. I do not know if I continue, “said Koeman at the press conference prior to Eibar-Barcelona in the league.
“If you don’t win and the club thinks it needs another coach, it seems perfect to me, but you have to communicate it,” added the Dutch coach.
The Barça coach affirmed that “we must respect the coach more” and announced that “surely” he will speak with president Joan Laporta after the last league game in Ipurúa, where the Catalan team go without mathematical options to win the title.
“I have always said from day one that I want to continue, I want to fulfill my contract, but the president has the last word,” he commented.
However, Koeman understands that “there are doubts about the latest results” and was aware that “in a club like Barça, despite making changes, you have to win things.”
Even so, he put in value the fact of winning the Copa del Rey and fighting for the league until the final stage of the competition: «In August we would all have signed to do the season we have done. It has not been a bad season knowing all the circumstances that we have had against.
One of these circumstances was the period of institutional uncertainty that led to the resignation of the board of directors of Josep Maria Bartomeu in October, and which did not end until the holding of elections last March.
“I have been the only spokesperson for the club in a long time this season, you have to admit it,” Koeman commented on the matter.
Despite having to deal with this situation, the Dutchman does not regret having trained the team: “I am very happy to be here. My dream as a coach had always been to coach Barcelona, although I already knew that here the coaches are questioned more than in other countries ».
In the strictly sports field, the coach praised “the tremendous effort” that, according to him, Leo Messi, Pedri González and Frenkie de Jong have made this season.
Precisely, the Argentine forward and the Canarian midfielder have permission to advance their vacations a few days after safely playing the Copa América and the Eurocup with their national teams and, in this way, they will be low against Eibar.
“Physically speaking, I have to protect these players, I spoke with them and we agreed to give them rest,” Koeman explained. EFE. (JL).