Barcelona coach Ronald Koeman described Leo Messi’s departure to Paris Saint Germain as “a very strong stick” and assured that the transfer of French Antoine Griezmann to Atlético de Madrid “was a bitch” because it occurred on the last day market.
In an interview with the Catalan newspaper Sport, the Dutch coach acknowledged that losing Leo Messi in the summer market was “a very strong stick” because “all the planning for the season was done with him in the team.”
“Leo also, after what happened last season with the burofax, he was super motivated, at a very high level and, of course, losing the best in the world like that is something that hurts and affects you. Not only Messi left, he left a symbol of this club, “he said.
And he was equally explicit when speaking of Antoine Griezmann’s departure: «The last day passed, with practically no time to find a solution. It was a bitch. Griezmann had a great contract and if he left he was going to help improve the financial situation of the club. That’s why I agreed, “he revealed.
The former selector ‘oranje’ was, however, convinced that he will be able to recover the best version of the Brazilian Philippe Coutinho. «I am still one hundred percent convinced that he is a player with the level to succeed at Barça. I like a lot. The last injury was a very strong blow for him and he has to recover well both physically and mentally to come back stronger than ever, “he said.
Koeman assured that he is open to renewing with the Barça club and that he is “excited” to continue in office “for many years” despite the current “difficult moments” for the entity.
“I think that thanks to our decisions, the coach and the technical ‘staff’, Barça has young players with a huge immediate future and hopefully in three, four or five years I can continue to be their coach,” explained the Dutchman in a interview granted to the Sport newspaper.
Koeman thus responded to rumors about his possible renewal (his contract expires at the end of this season), fueled by the recent defense of his work by the president, Joan Laporta, who publicly showed him all his “support” and “respect” .
«The future of a coach always depends on the results, but Laporta was very good and it was important that he take advantage of an interview to make things clear, as they are. If there are doubts on the part of the club about his coach, we are going wrong, “said the coach. EFE (HN)