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It has been a horrible few weeks for Barcelona coach Ronald Koeman.
At first – possibly as a sign of things to come – Lionel Messi made the best of the end of his contract after he made a very lucrative move to Paris Saint-Germain.
What followed was a less-than-impressive start to LaLiga and, despite Barça’s being unbeaten after five matches (ahead of this afternoon’s game against Levante), they are only seventh, seven points behind bitter rivals Real Madrid, with a game in hand.
Three disappointing draws, the latest midweek against Cadiz in a game that saw midfielder Frenkie de Jong and Ronald Koeman being red-carded, are not what Barcelona fans expect of their team.
The Champions League start has been even worse, with a rampant Bayern Munich team running riot in Camp Nou in the opening game, winning 3-0.
READ: OFFICIAL | Lionel Messi signs two-year deal with PSG
On Wednesday, Koeman takes his side to Lisbon for their encounter against Benfica, with the pressure mounting.
In last Monday’s draw at home against Granada, with Barcelona staring defeat in the face, Koeman made the unexpected decision to send defenders Gerard Piqué and Ronald Araújo upfront in an attempt to salvage a draw.
Despite Araújo grabbing a last-gasp equaliser, Koeman’s decision was questioned, with fans pointing out that, while in previous years Barcelona had Messi, Neymar and Luis Suárez up front, they were now sending defenders into the fray to grab the goals.
After the game, Koeman was unapologetic: “We went with Piqué, [Luuk] de Jong and Araújo, and from one of those crosses, we got the draw. If you see the list of players, what do you do? Play tiki-taki, when there are no spaces? We did what we had to do. We tried to win another way.
“We don’t have players one-on-one or with speed. I’m not going to say more because it seems I have to argue about everything.”
Koeman, however, cannot shirk responsibility, as he had no interest in keeping Suárez, who went on to win the league with Atlético Madrid in his first season with the club. At the start of this season, he also sent French international Antoine Griezmann out on loan to Atlético.
READ: Messi 'dreaming of Champions League win' with PSG
Koeman’s description this week of Messi as a tyrant on the training field also surprised some Barcelona fans, who still regard the Argentine international as a hero.
In Koeman’s defence, it must be said that the coach has had to deal with an unprecedented injury crisis that currently sees Ansu Fati, Sergino Dest, Sergio Agüero, Martin Braithwaite, Pedri, Jordi Alba and Ousmane Dembélé out of action.
Koeman has so far resisted calls to throw several of the club’s talented academy players into the fray, saying at a press conference: “I’m not afraid to start a young man, but putting six in right away isn’t good either. It’s difficult to know when they’re going to have more games.”
He has also resisted instructions from officials to give home-grown youngster Riqui Puig, who turned down opportunities to go out on loan to gain experience at the start of the season, more playing time.
“He has to work to win minutes and improve his game, like all young people,” said Koeman.
Barcelona’s difficult start has put pressure on the Dutchman, who is in charge of his 11th club since starting his coaching career in 2000. The embarrassing 3-0 defeat at home against Bayern in the Champions League has left fans wondering whether he is still the right man to lead the club.
Koeman, however, is hopeful that he can turn things around.
“We’re confident about winning games, but there’s still a long way to go. I hope to get people back to have more players available. I know the results count. I have no fear about my future. In the end, the club and the president [Joan Laporta] decide.”
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