Koeman's first setback

Ronald Koeman's Barcelona will start work on August 31 at 5:30 p.m. at the Ciutat Esportiva. However, the first training session for the Dutch coach will start on the wrong foot: will not have the presence of all the players of the squad. And not precisely because the transfer or assignment roulette has started -this week that begins there could be the first exits- but because several players are scheduled with their national teams to play the League of Nations.

The list of absences for Monday, August 31 is not small. Players like Sergio Busques, Ansu Fati, Pedri, Riqui Puig, Pjanic, Griezmann, Lenglet, Semedo or Rakitic will not be in Barcelona on Monday. It also remains to be seen if they have to be present on Sunday August 30 to undergo the PCR tests or if they will finally carry them out at the headquarters of the respective federations.

So that, a first setback for Koeman, who will have to wait almost ten days to recover his international players: all teams play two games at the beginning of September. In any case, Barcelona has the approval of the Federation and LaLiga to start the championship from the third day – together with Sevilla and Atlético de Madrid -, which will allow the Dutch coach a prudent time margin to be able to work and get to know your players, taking into account that LaLiga begins the weekend of September 12 and 13.

And still thanks that the South American players do not have to travel to their countries because the competition is suspended, because if not the exodus in the squad would be massive.