Ronald Koeman has enjoyed an optimal working relationship with Lionel Messi since his arrival at Barcelona, despite persistent rumors of the star’s possible departure from the Camp Nou. The coach of the Spanish cup winner notes to his great satisfaction that Messi has been playing better and better in the course of this season, especially because the attacker feels comfortable with the conditions at brand new cup winner Barcelona.
Koeman has already had several conversations with Messi. Among other things, there was talk about the changes that the former national coach of the Dutch wanted to make. “Messi has gone along with it from the first moment”, it sounds in an extensive interview with Football International. “I’ve never had a moment when I thought: He wants something different. I think the turnaround for Messi himself has been that he has increasingly come to realize that a lot can be won with young talented players, “said Koeman, who thinks Messi is a real winner.” If that does not work, he is not to be enjoyed . As we started to win more and play better, you saw that he became more and more comfortable in his own skin. “
FRENKIE DE JONG! 2-0! ??
After his assist on Griezmann, a little later he heads in the second for Barça himself ??#ZiggoSport #CopaDelRey #AthleticBarca pic.twitter.com/YylbT7xBXF
– Ziggo Sport Football (@ZS_Voetbal) April 17, 2021
Messi is the leader of Barcelona and his status was confirmed again on Saturday in the halftime of the cup final against Athletic Club (0-4 win). The Argentinian playmaker used the break to play his players in the catacombs. “Nice to see that at such moments he is so busy with the team and the other players trying to improve things”, Koeman pays a compliment to his star player. “I also found the way he celebrated that cup so telling. It has been different with him. He had problems with the previous president, there was dissatisfaction, but if you see him now … Great for the club, for it. team and for me as a trainer. Because you can see that he is still the best. He proves that every time. “
The admiration within the Barcelona selection was well reflected after the cup final won. Several players wanted to pose together with Messi and the Spanish cup. “Isn’t it great that all those players have done that? I see it mainly as an expression of respect and appreciation”, jubilates Koeman, who did not take a picture with Messi himself. “The players see every day how important Messi still is to the club, they see his incredible qualities in training, the class dripping from it, the unlikely things he shows. Messi has won an incredible number of awards, but was genuinely happy with this one. . For himself, of course, but I think mainly for the club and all those young players “, Koeman emphasizes.
In addition to Messi, twice accurate against Athletic Club, there was a leading role for Frenkie de Jong. The the Dutch-international scored once and was one of the stars on the side of Barcelona. Koeman is full of praise for the development that De Jong is going through this season. “But I also thought that he had to do that. He has been a big purchase for Barcelona,” the Barcelona coach refers to the arrival of the midfielder in 2019. “Then you cannot just play, you have to take the next step. in your personality, importance and effectiveness for the team. I love to see how he picks up on that. Frenkie is this team. He of course has exceptional qualities, both attacking and defensive. For the future of this Barcelona he will go even more important “, said the hopeful Koeman.