BARCELONA, Spain (AP) – Barcelona coach Ronald Koeman is not concerned about Lionel Messi’s commitment to the team despite his continued conflicts with the club’s management.
Koeman said on Saturday that he became involved in Messi’s efforts in the field, not his management complaint to prevent him from left Barcelona while expelling teammate and friend Luis Suarez.
“It is widespread for a player to feel unhappy when a friend leaves,” Koeman said in a conciliatory tone towards Messi, a day after the star’s striker came to social media to complain that the Barcelona board had given Suarez the exit he “deserved. “. “
“But the most vital thing for me is the way Leo trained. He is an example for the rest in education and (pre-season) matches,” Koeman said a day before his official barcelona coaching debut against Villarreal.
Suarez learned of the club’s resolve to get rid of him through a call from Koeman, who hired after the team lost 8-2 to Bayern Munich to finish last season. Madrid, rival of the Spanish league, this Wednesday.
Koeman, however, has made it clear that he needs to be recognized as the only culprit in Suarez’s 33-year-old exit, which left Barcelona as the third-highest scorer of all time.
“I’ll have to say I look like the villain Array . . . That’s not true,” Koeman said. ” It was a club resolution. The club, before I became its coach, made resolutions. It wasn’t my only resolution as a coach; it was also a club resolution. It’s an effort to replace the team. Young players will have more opportunities.
These young players arrive with new signings Francisco Trinco and Pedri, and Ansu Fati, 17.
“Ansu is a wonderful talent,” Koeman said of the striker who was the youngest striker of all time in Spain on his previous debut this month.
“Few have shown that they can play for Barça. He is a player of the future.
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