Ronald Koeman, Barça hero at Wembley and current Dutch coach, spoke this Saturday on the show Tot Tour of Catalonia Ràdio. It is the first interview he gave since he was admitted in early May for a heart problem. The first thing Koeman did is confirm that his evolution is positive. “I am glad to be fit again. Last week I had a check-up with a cardiologist and everything went well. They told me that I still had to take care of myself but now I am happy. Thanks to Martina (my wife) I got over the scare. I felt bad but now I am happy. “
Koeman, who admits that post-pandemic football is proving somewhat “artificial” to him, analyzed some current affairs at Barça. Especially the performance of Frenkie de Jong, with whom he has been in contact during confinement. “I have talked to all the internationals because they have all had different types of confinement. De Jong I think he is a player who can adapt to a new position in the midfield, a little more forward. But I think his best position is closer to his defense The position where Busquets plays. That is his best position for him. It is where he plays in the national team and where he played for Ajax. But it is not bad to adapt to other positions. He is a young player and you have to give time to young boys. In a short time he will demonstrate his quality for Barça. He has shown it with Ajax and with the national team. I have no doubt that he is a player for Barça. He knows he can do more, but he is calm because he is happy at Barça. “
The Barça legend insisted again that his big dream is to lead Barça one day, but that he has priorities. And now, the first is Holland and the Eurocup: “I had a keyMada (from Barça), I said it several times. But I wanted to keep my word with the team, thinking that the Euro Cup was this summer. I'm good with the players in the national team and for me it was more important. What may happen in the future nobody knows. I have the possibility in the contract to leave the team after the Euro Cup, but it is not a time to think about that. Everyone knows that it is a dream for me to train Barça. Hopefully I can have a chance in the future. It always depends on your career and, as a coach, you have to have a lot of experience to train a team with Barça.
Koeman revealed that on June 17 they will have information about the future of the Nations League when UEFA decides whether or not to go ahead with the competition. He also acknowledged that Barça no longer has the level of a decade ago, although he gave it credit: “It is very difficult for me to comment on Barça. Barça is not Guardiola's, but it is still a fantastic team. For De Jong I am seeing more games than before. I hope that in the end he can take LaLiga. For the Champions League, he has to play better if he wants to win it. “