To the beat of Koeman

“He does not go around the bush, he is serious, direct and sincere.

It is not for hosts!

And also respect and ask for respect ”, exclaims one of the Barcelona players to define Ronald Koeman.

The best teams generally need demanding coaches and interventionists when misrule has taken over the dressing room as it did at the Camp Nou.

"I still remember when Luis Enrique arrived and proclaimed: 'I am the leader in my teams," adds a qualified employee of the Barça club.

"And in his own way, after the litigation with Messi, he was and he even won the treble in Berlin 2015."

Koeman also leads in his own way, without showing off or raising his voice, "commanding without kinks," says one of the headlines.

“There is commitment,” he adds, “and the group grows stronger, without leaks or nonsense.

It was necessary to do pineapple after the disaster of Lisbon [2-8 against Bayern] ”.

The task is not easy because when the squad returned from vacation, there was a tense uproar in the locker room that became palpable because the coach dispensed with capital players such as Rakitic, Luis Suárez, Vidal and Umtiti, who cannot find a way out because he has one knee to the virule.

"They were difficult days," they pointed out from the sports city Joan Gamper.

The time for Valverde's consensus and common sense had passed and Quique Setién could not and did not know how to find his place.

Koeman's speech, without being authoritarian, was always transparent.

“He knows exactly what he wants and that is how he transmits it, without detours or adornments.

It's to be appreciated ”, they admit in the Barcelona dressing room.

The players, for the moment, respond wonderfully, to the point that Captain Messi has joined the cause after his fight with President Bartomeu.

They have played and won two games with seven goals in favor and none against, 4-0 against Villarreal and 0-3 against Celta, very little journey yet to draw conclusions, enough in any case to change the defeatist trend of the last Barça.

Up to seven of Thursday's headlines against Celta made up the night of 2-8.

Thus, and in addition to goalkeeper Neto, who acted for the injured Ter Stegen, the novelties in Vigo were Griezmann, Ansu and Coutinho in the positions of Semedo, Vidal and Suárez.

The difference, in any case, lies in the attitude of the footballers, more supportive and hard-working than ever, and also with more offensive variants than Messi.

It was also warned against Villarreal.

There were three occasions for Jordi Alba, two for Sergi Roberto, Ansu, De Jong, and one more for Coutinho, Messi, Trincão and Pedri.

"We have defended and attacked together, you can see that we are very united," said Sergi Roberto in Balaídos.

"We are giving a fantastic group image," agreed Ramon Planes, sports director.

Koeman added: "I am very proud of the team."

The coach is always up front, typical of the Dutch character, because criticism is always accepted as something constructive and not pejorative.

This he did, for example, at Valencia, when he faced the strong sector of the dressing room and ended up being fired after winning the Cup. The same he did at Ajax at the beginning of the century, when he revived a club worn to the point of who won the double twice and, incidentally, reached the quarterfinals of the Champions League (2003).

Something similar happened recently with Holland, a team lost until Koeman compacted the group.

'New' players

And more of the same happens now with Barcelona.

There is no case as flagrant as that of Coutinho, evicted in the preseason because he notified that he preferred to go with his football elsewhere, uncomfortable at the Camp Nou.

He accepted the technical secretariat and looked for equipment without success because there was no one to pay him the card.

A minor setback for Koeman, who convinced the footballer to stay and gave him that affection he had always needed.

"Cou wants to feel important, he's a bit delicate in that sense and with Ronald he seems to have found his ecosystem," they admit at the Barcelona offices.

Against Villarreal and Celta he has been the lever of the attack,

in two of Ansu Fati's goals.

But the Brazilian is not the only one who has turned his fate at Barça.

Jordi Alba (31 years old), part of the fans considered him a downward side, happy in attack and broken in defense.

His forays and round trips are notable now.

As with Busquets (32) who was punished for his lack of physicality, for arriving late to the cuts.

A fact certifies it: in the previous course he made five recoveries per duel and now he reaches eight, insurance in the pass and capital in the axis.

Like De Jong - perhaps the only one who has yet to take a step forward - who has doubled from four to eight.

And, of course, La Pulga.

"Messi has to accompany the evolution of the team," Koeman resolved, without mincing words.

Thus, the set opens the range of possibilities in attack, even though Leo is the main option because he is the best.

A roadmap, however, that does not detract from it because it finishes off exactly the same as last season: 4.5 shots per game.

Although nobody like Ansu Fati, who has emerged with the ownership on the far left.

From 0.24 goals per shock it has gone to 1.5.

Data that exalt this Barcelona, ​​improved physically and tactically, which no longer intends to attack with a round because the rivals are athletes as well as footballers, but attacks the approach with rhythm and above all in block, with Messi as the only released in defensive tasks, no matter how hard he fell in the second half against Celta.

"You play as you train," Koeman settled.

Mr. word.

"We are a team again," they say at the Camp Nou.