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Does he still have a future in Barcelona?
Photo:
Alejandro Garcia / EPA
FC Barcelona coach Ronald Koeman gave a memorable press conference ahead of the league game against Cádiz.
The Dutchman read a three-minute statement from the paper and then left the room without admitting questions from the astonished journalists.
Koeman, who has had to do without the Argentine superstar Lionel Messi, who has moved to Paris Saint-Germain since August, asked for "patience" in rebuilding the team.
Given the difficult situation of the club, this must be achieved without major financial investments, i.e. without expensive acquisitions by experienced players.
But there is also hope.
"Today's young talent can become the new world stars in a few years," Koeman said.
Koeman is under enormous pressure after the 3-0 home defeat against FC Bayern in the Champions League on Tuesday last week.
The relationship with President Joan Laporta is anything but good, the fans of the successful club are restless.
Should the team not improve their performance in the game against Cádiz on Thursday, Koeman's days at FC Barcelona could be numbered, wrote the newspaper »La Vanguardia«.
The Dutchman seems to know that.
He set the bar low by classifying it as a success if Barcelona can stay in the upper end of the league.
No “miracles” are to be expected in the Champions League.
Then he seemed to turn to Laporta, whom he did not mention by name: "The process we are in deserves unconditional support and advice."
aha / sid / dpa