Barcelona is preparing for another crucial game in LaLiga. Ronald Koeman’s team will play in and against Valencia on Sunday evening; a match in which the Dutchman apparently will not sit on the bench. Barcelona has appealed against his suspension of two games and it is still unclear whether any acquittal will come in time for the game in Mestalla. If not, Alfred Schreuder will take care of Koeman’s duties. Koeman hopes his players will perform better than Thursday night, when Granada surprisingly won 1-2.
For Barcelona, a victory in Mestalla is all that matters. “We will have to get better defensively. We cannot get against goals in the way that happened against Granada ”, Koeman emphasized the day before the game in Eastern Spain. “We need to be more concentrated and close the spaces. We are now facing a difficult game in which we will have to be efficient and defend better. The players were very disappointed with the defeat against Granada, but it is also proof that no game is easy. However, there is no time to mourn or think about it now. You have to look ahead and learn from your mistakes. ”
Koeman is disappointed with his suspension because of the ruling vaya personaje. “We have appealed because it is an exaggerated suspension for uttering those words. If you really berate someone, you will apparently get twenty games of suspension? We disagree. In the run-up to tomorrow’s game, I have full confidence in the technical staff. ” Koeman feels responsible for the defeat against Granada. “You are always responsible. Responsible for the base elf, responsible for the changes, and so on. I don’t know what else to say. If we win the remaining five matches, we will be champions. ”
Koeman was asked whether he was surprised that the attackers miss many imposed opportunities. “You have to admit that this is a strong competition with many good teams. At the top, four clubs are three points apart. The bigger clubs have played a lot of games in a short period of time this season, we have had injuries and you pay the top prize if you are not focused. ” The Dutch do not think that fatigue plays a role. “I tend to disagree. The players are physically okay. We just can’t manage to end a match when we’re ahead. In many matches we showed the best football in the final stages. ”
Clément Lenglet and Pedri were missing from the starting eleven against Granada and Samuel Umtiti’s starting place was somewhat surprising. “Why he was in the base? A technical decision. Pedri needed a rest and Umtiti is training well. Not so much attention should be paid to the switches. You cannot play with the same players for a whole season. If we had won, nobody would have talked about it ”, emphasized Koeman, who does not yet know whether he can contact Schreuder from the stands of Mestalla. “I first need to know what is possible and what is not. I am going to discuss this with team manager Carles Naval. It is a crucial game for us, but so are Atlético Madrid and Real Madrid today and Sevilla on Monday. For us, especially after a defeat, winning is the most important thing. ”
The question whether the players of Barcelona have no or less confidence in Koeman caused a surprise to Koeman. The journalist was probably referring to the short conversations that the Dutchman had with a few routiners on Saturday morning at the start of the training. “Why are you asking that question? Everyone wants the very best for the club. They are players who have won a lot of awards with this club and do not get nervous. I am in contact with them about possible changes, I ask questions and then I make decisions. We talked about how we lost, for example. No more. It is not necessary to look for things that are not there. ”