Minutes before entering the court to sign the divorce, Laporta and Koeman agreed to take time to see if there was still chemistry between them. It was not a decision based on affection because the couple cannot stand each other, perhaps they bet on the disastrous solution of facing a common project (buying a house, taking a trip or looking for offspring) to try to reconcile, but most likely both have agreed to allow time for the distribution of goods. This is, You give me time and you face a decisive calendar in the next three games and then I decide. Basically, because there is no one who wants to take on this challenge.
The next three games of Barcelona are decisive and before burning a coach who is going to have to submit to the Camp Nou trial on the day of the assembly by receiving Valencia, playing the Champions League options three days later in a final at home and then receiving Madrid, Possibilities prevail. This Tourmalet will be passed by Koeman and if it exceeds it, it will be ratified. If not, he will clear the field for his substitute. None of the technicians contacted wants to debut against Real Madrid.
Laporta is well aware that the choice of the coach who will sooner or later replace Koeman is the most important one he must make in this second stage as president. He will be judged by that technician, who will be entirely his, while Koeman remains part of Bartomeu's heritage, even if he reluctantly ratified it.
Laporta's idea to replace Koeman was to hire a long-term technician, someone who started to forge a project. The president did not initially want a bridge coach, but as things stand, it does not seem that this profile will be available in October, you want to embark on this adventure and, not least, that it is affordable.
Laporta presented his candidacy in January, he was elected in March and it was in May that he saw clearly that Koeman was not the piece he was looking for. But he also realized that he had no one to replace him. His “wet dream” was Guardiola, as unattainable as Flick, Naggelsmann or Tuchel. Especially after opening drawers and seeing the ruin of Barça.
In the absence of options, Koeman began the preseason after learning from the president that he was still there because he had not found anything better. Then came Messi's departure (“the saddest day since I've been at Barça,” Koeman said) and the dialectic between the two through third parties.
Laporta has acknowledged that in informal meetings with journalists he has been carried away by his passion for soccer with comments that undermined the coach and apologized for this. In turn, the coach has accepted the challenge and has responded from the Dutch press and with a statement that caught Laporta on the wrong foot.
When the situation seemed irreversible, Koeman gave a press conference on Friday pointing to posthumous citing Van Gaal in his farewell. Hours before, Laporta had again a meeting with the press in which he slipped the word “sentenced” and spoke of the candidates. In that conversation he distanced himself from Xavi (“let him come to B”) and showed his predilection for Pirlo and his desire to convince Tuchel. The divorce was sung.
But in a last minute swerve, Laporta arrived in Madrid confirmed Koeman and his sports vice president, Rafa Yustand, had the rennet to assure that “we have never considered his dismissal.” A lie that falls by itself.
A comic book that was sealed with Koeman thanking the trust of a board that has been unable to find a technician in nine months. It no longer comes three weeks. After the Classic there will be no more excuses.