As published this Saturday by the journalist Joan Vehils in Sport, last Wednesday, at the break of Benfica-Barça (1-0 at that time), Ronald Koeman had a discussion with one of the sacred cows in the Barça dressing room. One more episode that reflects the coach's distancing from the players, which would be added to his severance of relations with the president, Joan Laporta.
During the first half of Benfica-Barça, the most striking episode, in addition to Darwin's goal, was the replacement of Gerard Piqué, who had a yellow and the second was played. The central, in a bad moment of form, was replaced by Gavi. His face was a poem.The substitution of Piqué also meant that De Jong dropped meters and the team lost punch.
According Sport, the conversation, risqué, did not go to more, but it is obvious that a rift has opened between Koeman and the players by the extreme crudeness of the coach in the speech. His way of explaining that they are not candidates for anything has not liked many players, not even the captains, who have been in charge of answering him in public statements. “I don't play here to be second, “said Piqué. “We are Barça and I don't see better squads than ours,” said Sergi Roberto. And Araíujo, a newcomer, also revolted: “We want the League, the Cup, the Super Cup, everything.” The tension is at very high levels before Wanda's game.