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Ronald Koeman: Netherlands boss to replace Quique Setien at Barcelona 'if nothing goes wrong', with emphasis on Lionel Messi
Lionel Messi will be the lynchpin of a Barcelona side coached by Ronald Koeman next season, the club’s president Josep Maria Bartomeu has said.
Bartomeu ruled out the possibility of the Argentinian star – out of contract next summer – leaving the Nou Camp as he confirmed their intention to appoint Koeman as the successor to Quique Setien, though that deal is not yet finalised.
“I have spoken with Koeman and the pillar of our project is Messi,” Bartomeu said. “He has a contract until 2021, I speak a lot with Leo and more regularly with his father.
“He is number one in the world. There is no doubt that in Koeman’s new project you can count on Messi.”
Messi has been synonymous with Barca for more than a decade, scoring 631 goals in 734 appearances since breaking into the first team in 2005, helping the club win four Champions League crowns, 10 LaLiga titles and many other trophies besides.
But his future had come into question in the wake of Friday’s stunning 8-2 Champions League defeat to Bayern Munich which appeared to leave nobody safe at the club.
Setien, only in charge since January, was sacked on Monday, and a day later sporting director Eric Abidal left the club too, though Bartomeu indicated the former defender had jumped rather than been pushed, saying it was his “personal decision”.
Bartomeu has himself come under intense scrutiny, but rather than resign or face an immediate election he has chosen to bring forward the club’s next ballot to March next year.
By then, he will hope Koeman has done much to ease the extreme pressure on the club’s board.
“We bet on him,” Bartomeu said. “He has been in (Johan) Cruyff’s ‘Dream Team’. He was the first one we called in January. It’s a dream for him.”
Koeman played for the club between 1989 and 1995, winning the European Cup, four LaLiga titles and the Copa del Rey.
Though contracted with the Dutch national team until after the 2022 World Cup, Koeman earlier on Tuesday confirmed his interest in the Barca job as the 57-year-old said “I’d like to, but it will only be confirmed once I have signed the contract.”
The deal is not yet done, with Bartomeu saying only that Koeman would be the coach “if nothing goes wrong”, though with all parties in agreement that appears a foregone conclusion now.
The questions will instead be about what other changes lie in store, with Bartomeu indicating a full squad overhaul was on the cards.
“The renewal will be as deep as necessary,” he said.
"It was I who decided to give this generation the opportunity for another year. Maybe it was time to start the renovation last year.”
Bartomeu is willing to take the blame for the position Barca find themselves in even if he has no intention of walking, saying: “We are all responsible, but I am the most responsible.”
“The easiest thing would be to resign but I am not doing it because of my responsibility to the club,” he added.
“We have a sports crisis, it is not an institutional crisis. It is not a club crisis. It is just a sports crisis, which we must fix.”
Koeman confirms interest
Asked whether he would like to return to Barcelona, the 57-year-old, according to AS, told reporters on Tuesday: “Yes, I’d like to, but it will only be confirmed once I have signed the contract.
“Until then, I cannot say any more about it – even though I’d like to.”
Why not Xavi?
Former Real Betis boss Setien was never first choice to replace Ernesto Valverde, with club legend Xavi being contacted by the club in January but turning the chance down citing his lack of experience.
The 40-year-old is coaching Qatari side Al Sadd currently, and while he's already spoken of his desire to manage Barca, it's thought he's waiting until next year, when the presidential elections should see a new man at the helm.
But a delay in the club's election schedule has made Koeman even more likely to be the number one candidate.
A statement read: “The club will continue to implement the plan to reverse the sporting and economic situation, based on profound changes to the first team, plus a redefined budget to deal with the new situation caused by Covid-19, before the end of the current mandate.
“The holding of the elections from March 15 next year implies that the board of directors assume full responsibility regarding the 2020-2021 financial year.”
It seems that Xavi, who won eight LaLiga titles and four Champions Leagues with Barca, is playing the waiting game and will now be forced to wait a little longer. It seems unlikely he will fill the role this time.
Xavi has previously revealed his ideal Barca coaching set-up, and employing a Liverpool boot room style of backroom staff could be a good way of the club to get back to basics.
“Of course it would be a privilege for me to train Barca one day,” Xavi told El Pais. “I'd want a dream team, with Jordi Cruyff, Carles Puyol and some current players.
“I would like to make a team with important people who know the club, people who I trust and will be loyal to me.”
Setien's major problem seemed to be in getting Barca's star-studded squad to follow his instructions, and it was clear they collectively threw the towel in against Bayern.
It's hard to see even Lionel Messi not listening to friend and club legends such as Koeman or Xavi.
But Koeman will have to hope Barca fans, and players, are not thinking "why not Xavi" again in a few short months.