Ronald Koeman Has Won Over FC Barcelona’s Big Stars With No Nonsense Approach

Ronald Koeman hardly enjoyed a rosy start to life as FC Barcelona’s new head coach.

Succeeding the fired Quique Setien, after the Blaugrana’s 8-2 humbling by eventual winners Bayern Munich in the Champions League, former Netherlands tactician Koeman immediately held a meeting with his captain Lionel Messi.

As was widely-reported at the time, in a development that sent shockwaves around the soccer world, the Ballon d’Or holder told Koeman that he saw himself “more out of the club” than in.

Yet as SPORT report on Thursday morning, there were positives to take from the sitdown held at Messi’s home in Castelldefels.

Despite standing ground on his decision, Messi, whose stance had nothing to do with Koeman, apparently told some of his teammates that they would be in “good hands” with the Dream Team legend.

Eventually performing a u-turn to stay, announced via a dramatic interview with goal.com, Messi has since dedicated himself entirely to the cause, which Koeman has noted in public while insisting he has “no complaints” with the Ballon d’Or winner’s attitude and performance.

The Argentine has been impressed by the physical preparation plans conducted by Koeman and Albert Roca, and this is a common theme that runs through the first team squad.

Also holding talks with the likes of Sergio Busquets, Philippe Coutinho and Antoine Griezmann, Koeman has, since the first session he took charge of, “made it clear to the whole group that he would impose a culture of rigorous work”.

Barca’s stars appreciate this, and especially Koeman’s straight talking and knack of getting to the point immediately. In contrast to Setien’s right hand man Eder Saraiba, who often screamed profanities that didn’t go down well, Koeman uses “plain language’ that doesn’t violate “the codes of the locker room”.

Not looking to become close friends with his charges, the Dutchman likes to explains his messages “without intermediaries” or giving “rise to misinterpretations”.

His international players returning to training today, Koeman must now motivate them again ahead of a tough few weeks of fixtures that could define Barca’s season prior to the next FIFA and UEFA dates in November.