Ronald Koeman has set several unfavorable records during his tenure at Barcelona, and the Dutchman is under increasing pressure following a streak of poor results this season.
After a 2-0 loss to Atletico Madrid on Saturday, Barcelona plummeted to ninth place in LaLiga. And several of Koeman’s decisions have contributed to the team’s present league ranking.
The Catalan giants’ fortunes have deteriorated, and last week’s 3-0 Champions League defeat to Benfica perfectly highlighted how awful things are at the club right now – Barca failed to score a single shot on target during the encounter.
The 58-year-old manager’s burden was relieved by winning the Copa Del Rey, but only temporarily, as this season has been nothing short of a disaster. Given the Nou Camp’s drastically decreased expectations, it’s easy to overlook how much has changed in recent years.
@Leomessigoated1, a Twitter user, has compiled a list of all the things that have gone wrong at the club, as well as the unwelcome records Koeman has broken. Before last Tuesday’s win, Benfica hadn’t beaten Barcelona since 1960, according to the thread.
Despite recent results, Joan Laporta has openly endorsed the under-fire CEO, declaring that he has the “full backing” of the board and would not be fired anytime soon.
Laport remarked ahead of Saturday night’s loss to Atletico Madrid: “Ronald Koeman will continue as the coach of Barca, he deserves a margin of confidence. Koeman is a clue and a reference point for Barcelona.
“I have spoken with him and I have drawn my conclusions. I appreciate that he is leading Barca at a time of difficulty.”
However, Koeman cannot be held solely responsible for the club’s demise. Barca has been faced with harsh La Liga salary constraints, which have prompted high-paid players such as Lionel Messi and Antione Griezmann to leave. Despite these constraints, many supporters and critics believe that the former Netherlands manager’s tactics aren’t helping their cause.
