Ronald Koeman had one of his first great days as Barça coach at Sánchez Pizjuán. Nor is the entity for many more trots … But the Dutchman liked everything he saw in Seville and felt triumphant and euphoric at the end of the game. First, for his tactical decisions. He drowned Sevilla on the wings with the change of system and always had superiority in the center of the field. In addition, the magic touch with Dembélé puzzled Lopetegui and especially his Koundé. But what Koeman liked the most was the level of aggressiveness and concentration that the team finally demonstrated. Condemned for his individual mistakes for a good part of the season; for his mistakes in the last minutes (goals at the last minute in the final of the Super Cup or against Cádiz); and even because of its ease of falling before the first blow in a big game (1-3 against Madrid, 0-3 against Juventus or 1-4 against PSG), this time Barça did the job until the end and kept a solid line. He won almost smoothly.
It is the Barça that makes its people proud and of which Piqué spoke at the end of the game, as Koeman had already spoken after the Granada comeback. In election week, Koeman won points in Seville. Because although the three candidates have given him their backing, they have all put some problem on him. Although he later backed off, Víctor Font preferred Xavi for that job. Laporta keeps repeating that the future of Koeman will be marked by “the results and the game” in a reassuring message. Finally, Freixa assures that he will fulfill his contract, but his football director, Lluís Carreras, said in As that the same Dutch coach knew that he was being evaluated. Maybe that's why Koeman doesn't plan to vote …
But while the president is being decided, Koeman adds many more things to his credit than to his owes since he arrived at Barça last August. Has recovered the culture of effort in training. Physical preparation has improved, the renewal process has begun in the team pulling young people (Pedri, Dest, Araújo, Mingueza, Ilaix …) and, finally, he is getting the most out of his players. De Jong's change of position has been one of the findings of the season. The occurrence of Dembélé as nine also worked in Seville. And the meritocracy has been activated. If Pjanic's level drops, play Riqui. And if you are not convinced by whatever your game is, Ilaix comes out. Griezmann's substitution is the best demonstration that the privileges, beyond the logical inviolability of Messi, have ended. And that the players begin to accept it and there are no dramas. If the French wants to be fixed, he will have to burst the networks on nights like next Wednesday in the Cup against Sevilla. Tactically, Koeman has also been testing solutions. From 4-2-3-1 at the beginning of the season he went to 4-3-3 and, when he needed to get something out of his sleeve to surprise a team like Sevilla, he has placed three centrals.
Koeman explained recently that the new Barça is halfway there. Whether or not he wins something this season, what the Dutchman is interested in is that he doesn't go backwards anymore. And for the moment his work has satisfied a good percentage of members at the Camp Nou. Candidates should take this into account in their harangues at the end of the week … at least until Wednesday. Lest they are playing with fire so warmly.