Ronald Koeman believes in a miracle against Paris Saint-Germain, the Barcelona coach said at the press conference on Tuesday afternoon. The Catalans have to make up for the 1-4 defeat from the first leg in the return match of the eighth final of the Champions League. “Not is impossible in football. There is always hope,” said Koeman.
The Barcelona coach mentions the most important condition for a comeback against PSG. “It mainly depends on how effectively we deal with the opportunities”, the coach says. “It depends on how we start the match, the energy we put into it. It will be very difficult. We play against a team that does not allow us much to play. But we are a team that always creates opportunities. are optimally effective, then nothing is impossible. “
On Sunday, Joan Laporta was elected as the new president of Barcelona. Koeman was already acquainted with the president, who also held that position at Barça. “I know Frank Rijkaard well and he has worked with him. Rijkaard said that he gives trainers a lot of confidence. But in the end it’s all about the result,” said Koeman. “Laporta did the talking in the dressing room, the atmosphere was good. Now we have to continue on the same path. We have to continue on Wednesday.”
Koeman thinks his star player Lionel Messi could play an important role against PSG. “If Leo plays one of his best games, then anything is possible. He can decide any game at any time. But not only he has to be top, the whole team has to be top. And you have to be lucky. We’ll see if we can. gain an advantage and put them under pressure. “
Frenkie de Jong
Frenkie de Jong was also present at the press conference on Tuesday. The Barcelona midfielder said it is important to Barcelona that there is now a president, and that Laporta wished the squad the best of luck against PSG. De Jong was also confronted with the absence of Neymar, who has to pass Barcelona due to a muscle injury. “He is one of the best players in the world, and it makes it easier for us if he can’t play,” said the former Ajax player.
De Jong is hopeful for the return against PSG. “You always have to believe in it. I don’t know if the result in the first leg was justified. We played that game badly. The most important goal is always to force qualification for the next round. We will go for it and see how it goes.” Barcelona is performing excellently in the current calendar year: in the competition, the gap to leader Atlético Madrid has narrowed to six loss points, while the Copa del Rey final was reached with a comeback against Sevilla.
“We are really a collective,” said De Jong. “Lately the results have been excellent. We want to win the Copa de Rey. In 2021 things are also going better in La Liga, we are still competing for the title.” Finally, De Jong praised his teammate Iliax Moriba, who broke through from the youth academy this season and scored his first goal for Barcelona against Osasuna (0-2 win) on Saturday. “It doesn’t surprise me at all, after what I’ve seen in practice. He has a great future here.”