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Ronald Koeman’s future at Barcelona could hinge on the outcome of the battle for the club’s presidency, so staying focused is a challenge.
Ronald Koeman swore that he would not let the Barça elections distract him of the challenge of winning titles at the Camp Nou.
The Dutchman entered a club in crisis in August when he left the Netherlands job to return to Barcelona, with whom he had already enjoyed a very successful six-year term.
It means the head coach can barely protest amid the turmoil that continues to surround the Catalan giants., whose president Josep Maria Bartomeu resigned this week.
Bartomeu’s leadership faced strong criticism, with star man Lionel Messi so disenchanted that he tried to leave the club during the closing season.
Now, several months of the election campaign are firmly underway, and Koeman will do well if he can keep his mind off talking about what each candidate has in mind for the future.
Font wants Xavi in command at the Camp Nou
One of those who seems willing to stand, Toni Freixa, has supported Koeman to continue in his position, but Rival Victor Font has made no secret of his intention to appoint Xavi to a senior position, and also raised the idea of Pep Guardiola returning.
Asked about Freixa’s comments and his own future, Koeman said at a press conference on Friday: “I do not like to speak individually about the candidates, we will see what can happen. My job is not to be happy or unhappy whether someone wants to change things or not.
“I’m here for the club and to win things and the most important thing is to win tomorrow.”
Koeman’s Barcelona travels to Deportivo Alavés on Saturday after winning 5-0 at Mendizorrotza in their last LaLiga game last season, at which point Real Madrid had overshadowed them for the title.
They were in charge of Quique Setien for that game, which saw Lionel Messi score twice and provide an assist.
Messi has scored 10 goals in his nine LaLiga games against Alavés, as if his value for Barcelona needed a new emphasis.
Barcelona have won their last seven LaLiga games with Alavés, keeping a clean sheet in five of them and scoring an average of 3.4 goals per game.
The last time he was defeated by the Vitoria-Gasteiz team was in September 2016, falling to a 2-1 defeat that day. as coach Luis Enrique started the game with Messi and Luis Suárez on the bench.
This time Barcelona seeks to recover from two consecutive defeats in LaLiga, Getafe and Madrid, who have not lost three in a row in the league since April 2016, another low point in the Luis Enrique era.
Important victory in Turin
At least a week The Champions League victory over Juventus showed that Barcelona is capable of concentrating on the circus around it.
Players do not seem as vulnerable as Koeman to regime change, however there will be a sense of relief when the focus can be turned to matters on the field.
Questions about the presidency will continue to come to Koeman, who stressed on Friday: “It is not in my hands. I am the coach of this club and I work hard to move the team forward, achieve good results and win titles.”
“It’s what the coach and the players have to do. I am not nervous and I am involved in my work. This is how it is.
“From today until the elections there are candidates who are going to speak, who say things about their projects, and we will see who will be the president in the future.”
Source: m.allfootballapp.com
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