[ad_1]
With 16 competitive games to his credit as Barcelona coach, Ronald Koeman has had the worst start to life on the Camp Nou bench since his compatriot Frank Rijkaard 17 years ago, when he started with the Blaugrana in 2003/04.
Then Rijkaard won just eight of his first 16 games. He tied five and lost three of the others. At the time, Barcelona were trying to find some form again with Ronaldinho after a difficult moment in 2002/03.
In today’s Lionel Messi-centric era, Koeman’s team has won nine of the 16 games played so far, slightly improving Rijkaard’s record.
However, Koeman drew twice and lost five times. Four of those defeats have come in LaLiga Santander, and the last one was delivered by Juventus in the Champions League, letting them progress as group runners-up and not finishing first for the first time in 13 years.
Koeman’s unwanted five-loss record has him as the most defeated Barcelona manager in his first 16 games in recent years. Luis Enrique and Quique Setien lost three of their own, Pep Guardiola, Ernesto Valverde and Tito Vilanova suffered two defeats, while Tata Martino was undefeated.
Martino is the only one not to lose in his first 16 games at the helm, having won 12 and drawn four of his own. That record was made much better by winning the Spanish Super Cup against Atlético de Madrid.
Exceeded by Setien
Besides Martino, Guardiola and Luis Enrique also started with 12 victories. Vilanova and Valverde won 13, while Setién won 11 of his first 16, despite taking charge himself at a turbulent time.
Despite being questioned by the fans, even Setien enjoyed a better start in life as a Barcelona manager than Koeman has so far, winning two more games. Furthermore, Setien lost only three matches to Koeman’s five and both drew twice.
The results so far leave Koeman under some pressure, and the upcoming games will be a litmus test for his team.
Source: m.allfootballapp.com
[ad_2]
