Barcelona Coach Koeman Speaks On Suarez Exit, Messi Reaction And Villarreal, Plus Puig, Fati Futures

FC Barcelona coach Ronald Koeman has spoken on Luis Suarez’s exit and Lionel Messi’s reaction to it, plus a range of other subjects prior to tomorrow’s opening La Liga clash with Villarreal at the Camp Nou.

On the opposition, Koeman admitted that they could be in better shape than his men, but Barça are “well prepared”. “We’ve done a lot of work these weeks and the team is ready to be strong tomorrow,” he added.

Regarding the transfer market, which does not close until October 5 and from which the Blaugrana still need to make new acquisitions, Koeman said, “It’s important to have the players who are there. There’s a couple of weeks to improve the team and maybe sell some more. But we have a complicated game [now] and a week after. What can happen to the players, we’ll have to see.”

“Nothing is ruled out, but I’m just talking about the players who are here,” Koeman answered, when probed specifically on whether Lautaro Martinez or Memphis Depay would be brought in. “I don’t talk about signings. Barcelona are looking at players to improve the squad, and it’s the same as every year.”  

Challenged on Messi’s critical reaction to the exit of Suarez, who has been driven out to domestic rivals Atletico Madrid, Koeman said, “It’s normal for a player to be sad when a friend of his leaves the club [after] everything they’ve lived together. But the important thing for me is the attitude of Messi in training. I haven’t seen an intensity-free workout [from him]. He’s shown it in Friday and this morning’s workouts, and he’s going to prove it in the matches. I have no doubt about Messi in that regard.”

“It looked like I was the bad guy in the movie [regarding the Suarez theme], and it’s not [like that] because after my call to Luis I’ve shown respect for him as a player and as a person,” Koeman expanded further on this subject later on. “He’s trained to the fullest since day one. I told him it might be complicated for him to play if he stayed on, but if he stayed, I’d count on him.”

“These are decisions on the part of the club,” Koeman continued. “Before I signed for Barça, the club was thinking about changing things and I supported those decisions. It’s not just me as a coach, they are the club’s decisions too. It is the goal of changing the team and there are young people who play very well. With Luis we respect each other and spoke clearly about his future. He had the opportunity to go to Atletico and I wish him all the luck in the world.”

Back to how ready his squad is, after a short preseason and Champions League campaign that ran into August, Koeman said, “We lack match pace [and rhythm] because there are teams that have already played two matches and that can be a difference. But we have to put our energy into what we have in our hands. We need to focus on the work we have [ahead of us] and prepare the team for the start of La Liga.”

Clarifying it wasn’t true he’d told La Masia star Riqui Puig – who is in the matchday squad – that he didn’t feature in his plans for the upcoming term, Koeman said that Puig and Carles Aleñá, if they “decide to stay”, “will have opportunities and training sessions to show that I count on them [as] with the performance of each player”.

He was however more emphatic on the chances of soon-to-be 18-year-old sensation Ansu Fati. “Ansu is a must,” said Koeman. “He’s a great talent”.

“Few players his age demonstrate Barça’s level. You have to learn things. He played a great game with the national team. He’s a future player for the club. At his age he already has the [required] level to play in the first team.”

“You have to put each player in their best position,” Koeman confirmed, when asked of his plans for an improved Philippe Coutinho. “He can play [as a] 10, and on the left wing with more freedom, but his quality is [playing] high up [the pitch]. It is important that he can demonstrate his quality in the opposition’s area. I like this player and I hope he triumphs at Barça this season.”

Lastly, on his team’s gameplan, Koeman said, “We have to improve things in defense. It’s a different system than it has been in recent years. We want to push higher and not fall behind as much as they’ve done lately. It’s a radical change and it costs. We need time. In the last friendly we have seen the team with the most possession and pace and pressing well. Villarreal are a strong team with good players up top. We have to get the team together when we don’t have a ball and steal it as soon as possible.”