Friday, May 14, 2021 at 7:35 AM• Chris Meijer

Joan Laporta and Ronald Koeman sat around the table in restaurant Via Veneto in Barcelona for two and a half hours on Thursday. The president of Barcelona wanted to talk to the Dutch coach after a defeat against Granada (1-2) and draws against Atlético Madrid (0-0) and Levante (3-3), the title chances went up in smoke. Mundo Deportivo explains what was said in the conversation between Koeman and Laporta.

After two and a half hours, Laporta, Koeman and Vice President Rafa Yuste got in the same car from the restaurant. “You can ask anything you want, but I’m not going to answer,” said Koeman before stepping in to the massively collected press. Mundo Deportivo writes that the conversation between Laporta and Koeman went in a good mood. The club would have emphasized that it was a relatively ‘normal’ evaluation, despite the fact that the reports about the doubts about Koeman are becoming increasingly persistent.

Laporta wanted to speak to Koeman personally about the progression of his team. The trainer should have provided an analysis of the poor results of the past weeks. After the defeat against Granada and the draws against Atlético Madrid and Levante, the league title has disappeared from sight. Laporta asked for a reason for his team’s failure at key moments that have kept Barcelona unlikely to become champions.

Koeman was also asked whether and how Barcelona could close the gap with the competition. Due to the disappointing results of the past week, there are doubts whether Barcelona can still compete with Atlético Madrid and Real Madrid in the battle for the national title. Laporta also demanded an explanation of some tactical decisions and the situation of certain players, both who have suddenly become a permanent fixture and players to whom Koeman hardly appeals.

For Laporta, the meeting with Koeman was mainly dominated by ‘collecting information’, something that he likes to do personally. There has not been talked about next season yet, but only about the close of the current year. Koeman still has a contract until mid-2022, but it is not yet certain whether he will also be in charge at Barcelona next year. Laporta will first analyze various aspects before making a judgment. The fact that Laporta still supported Koeman during his election campaign, says nothing in that respect.