Koeman took over the management reigns at Barca following Quique Serien’s sacking last summer and quickly set about stamping his mark on a confidence-stricken squad.
Koeman might stay more than one season
According to his agent Rob Jansen, Ronald Koeman might stay at the Camp Nou beyond the 2021-22 season, who says the Barcelona coach’s job is safe for now. Koeman took over the management reigns at Barca following Quique Serien’s sacking last summer and quickly set about stamping his mark on a confidence-stricken squad. As a result, the Dutchman was able to bring Copa del Rey glory in his first season at the helm. Still, the Blaugrana failed in the LaLiga title and the Champions League, and it was reported that the club was considering another change in the dugout. Nonetheless, Jansen has moved to quash the speculation about Koeman’s future after a constructive meeting with Barca president Joan Laporta on Monday. Koeman’s agent told reporters: “There was a positive atmosphere during the meeting, and I left with a good feeling. There was mutual respect.”
The conversations between Koeman’s agent and Laporta still in progress
“The feeling is even that positive that Koeman might even stay longer. But we haven’t gotten that far yet; more conversations will follow.” The coach has already overseen 52 games in all competitions as Barca’s head coach, recording 34 wins, ten losses and eight draws. One of Barca’s most painful losses was inflicted by PSG, who ran out 4-1 winners in the first leg of their last 16 Champions League clash at Camp Nou in February. Barca eventually exited the competition after a 1-1 draw in Paris in the second leg before suffering more heartbreak in LaLiga. Koeman’s squad finished third in the Liga race after winning just two of their final six matches – seven points behind eventual champions Atletico Madrid.
Koeman’s rescue came in the form of an impressive 4-0 win over Athletic Bilbao in the Copa del Rey final, with Lionel Messi’s brace and goals from Frenkie de Jong and Antoine Griezmann clinching the trophy for Barcelona. The Blaugrana ended their campaign with a 1-0 league win against Eibar, after which Koeman insisted that he would need support in the transfer market to take the team to the next level. “When we arrived, we took the plan that was available,” he told reporters. “Sergino Dest only came on the last day. For me, this squad is not forced to have the level that it requires and that we want for the club. There are older players with all due respect. And some young players need to get more experience to be better. The project is not done; you cannot do everything in one season.”