For Ronald Koeman, the rivalry with Real Madrid began even before his landing in Barcelona in the summer of 1989. For two seasons, PSV Eindhoven faced the Whites in dog-face ties in the old European Cup resolved by details. Koeman and PSV were victorious in 1988 and the Whites in 1989. But that defeat in Eindhoven left the Quinta del Vulture very touched.
In fact, it can be said that Koeman was in the two defeats that marked the end of the Quinta del Vulture. Buyo acknowledged in a recent interview that, in addition to the painful loss to PSV, the 1990 Cup final marked the beginning of the decline of a winning era at Madrid. Koeman was a big protagonist in that final. A shot of his with poison was not caught by Buyo. It was the origin of Amor 1-0. The final, tense, ended with a Barça title, Cruyff maintaining the position, threatened by Núñez's doubts, and the rest is history.
Koeman, who participated in 14 Clásicos against Madrid, had already started on the right foot. In the first time he played, he scored two penalty goals (one against Eusebio and the other against Salinas) in the sixth match of the League of the 1989-90 season. But his most memorable goals, without a doubt, were those he got from a free kick in the 1991-92 and 1993-94 LaLiga Classics. Two cannon shots with the Dutchman's seal. Strong and the goalkeeper's stick. Invisible to Buyo. The second is also part of the little hand of Toni Bruins and Romario's hat-trick.
But Koeman also lived the bitter face of the Classics, especially in the last one he played at the Bernabéu. Then, Madrid returned the 5-0 to the Catalans, a team turned into a doll in white hands, and with the Dutchman overwhelmed by his friend and former teammate Laudrup, as well as by a very young Raúl, Zamorano, Amavisca …, and Luis Enrique, still a Madrid player at that time.
To Koeman, then, you don't have to explain what a Classic is or what is best for motivating players. He has chewed it up on Cruyff's orders. With old captains like Alexanco, with new homegrown players like Guardiola. Although it is not a special Classic, it is obvious. Playing it behind closed doors makes it a historical rarity. Without the passion of the Camp Nou stands, so hot in this game; no pre-game talk. Without all the atmosphere that is key to understanding the historical account of this type of party.
But, two months after reaching the bench he always dreamed of, Koeman has a good note. He has recovered formality in the dressing room, he has increased the intensity of training, he has imposed his principle of authority and has eliminated privileges. He has changed the game system regardless of what they will say and has projected that seriousness at work to the behavior of the team on the pitch. A Barça without fuss, but that is doing a correct job and competing. Koeman has recovered Coutinho, he has not been afraid to announce certain players that they did not count or would have fewer minutes and he has shown the courage to give minutes to two 17-year-old boys, especially Pedri, who had never set foot on the planet Barça . It would even be said that his relationship with Messi is cold, but not toxic, which is something after the stormy summer of the burofax. But Koeman knows that in Barcelona the Classics weigh a lot. If he also wants to be a hero on the bench, Madrid must be beaten.