Ronald Koeman, Barcelona coach, spoke at a press conference in the preview of Barça-Sevilla back in the Copa del Rey semifinals. He did it in the midst of an institutional storm due to the arrest of Josep Maria Bartomeu, the second electoral debate and also the controversy last weekend with Monchi in the Liga party. These were his manifestations.
On Saturday they won 0-2. You have to go back. What plan will you put in place?
After the result of the other day we are confident of winning, but we have a 2-0 down and we have to play an even better game than we did last Saturday to be able to pass. But nothing is impossible.
What happened to Pedri?
There are things that can hardly be explained. I was surprised yesterday afternoon because he did a more individual training. He did not feel any discomfort, without any problem. And I think in the end it will be able to be on the list.
What did you think yesterday when you saw Bartomeu arrested?
For the image of the club it is not good. You have to wait for what can happen and what has happened. He wasn't here and he couldn't comment on this. What we have to do is concentrate on our work. We can't do anything about other things. Worse the image of the club is not good.
What has been your message to the players, what can you say to the Catalans so that they believe?
A 2-0 is a bad result to come back. But there are options. We have shown that the team is hungry, that it has focused on doing good things. But we need more effectiveness than we've shown lately. In the three games we have played against Sevilla we have created more chances than the rival. If that happens tomorrow again, you have to be effective. And a clean sheet is also going to be vital.
Xavi has focused the debate. Is Xavi a threat to you?
I'm not worried because I have a contract and when we know who is going to be the president of course we will talk and I want him to show me his way. But that's next week. Tomorrow is the game. And the party is more important than the debates. I do not worry that each one takes their names because there has always been that.
Looking at what has happened around the club, do you have the feeling that you are in the best place but at the worst moment?
All clubs have difficult times. It's true that a lot has happened to us this season. But the staff is working well. We are happy and we are fighting to win things. And that is the most important. And what counts is being with the group. And this is the best site for me. Knowing the problems that there are, that they must be improved and solved. Be one more year, five more years or two more months, I will do everything for Barça.
Little is said about their motivation. Is it the same as the first day?
The same from day one. I knew that arriving as a coach at Barça in the world of COVID is already complicated. And more for the things that have happened. But as a coach, you always have problems. But you also have moments to be proud. This is our world. If I don't want this, I'm going to party and go on vacation. But I want to be. And the job of the new president is to show the way with his people, and nothing else. And that's for next week because tomorrow is an important game.
In Sánchez Pizjuán he tried three centrals. Are you considering repeating with 3-5-2 or will it be a different match?
The most important thing about a system is the mindset of a team. Press, be together. That is the most important. In the Cup we also pushed a lot and it didn't go well. The most important thing is that the team works, press. And when we have the ball, we know how to play well. If we trust, it is because we have created opportunities. In the Cup we created more than them and in LaLiga, with 1-1, we had more opportunities than them. If we continue in this line, we have possibilities.
How do you manage to abstract yourself from everything that happens at the club? If you know all this, would you have arrived in the summer?
In life you do not know what can happen in the future. The day they called me from Barça I was convinced to accept it. I knew it was a difficult time, that the club was losing money on the COVID issue and that changes had to be made with the young people. I have tried to do what we talked about and what I had in my head. Life is ups and downs, facing opportunities, problems. And solve them. Life is no different from this.
How has Araújo been?
I had discomfort. Let's see how he is tomorrow morning.
You played 3-4-3. Is it a crazy system for tomorrow or can you use it?
Playing with three behind is possible. But beyond the system, our team is very offensive. And we arrived with many players at the top.
Can tomorrow's game mark the end of the season?
Of course it is important if we can go back. It would be a major boost of morale. We can do it, but we have to prove it.
When you have seen this information about Bartomeu these days, do you feel bad for him?
Yes. When the news came out the other day, I was screwed by Bartomeu because I know him well. And also to Óscar Grau. I had important moments for them but very good ones. Bartomeu for me has always been an exceptional person.
Do your personal plans go through talking to Xavi?
At the moment I don't speak to anyone. Because you have to see who comes as president; who is your technical team. And then we speak. If I don't see a future for me, we will have a problem. But that will be next week.