BARCELONA – Ronald Koeman, who began his press conference with a fond memory of his friend and former teammate Eusebio Sacristán, admitted this Saturday, in the run-up to Barça’s first game in the new year against Huesca, that The Barça team continues to have Messidependència “as it did many years ago. You have to think that its quality, its game and its importance has been very important at the club. I have seen Barcelona’s matches a long time ago, before coming, and I have seeing that many times when the team wasn’t right, Leo was here to solve it.
“I see him well, he’s fine. He trained on the 30th and 31st, when the team was at the party, and he has no ankle problems. He is happy, ready for the game and very eager,” he said in the clash. Alcoraz, admitting that he is still “very important to us.”
The Dutch coach wanted to park any speculation regarding the future of the Argentine crack when asked if he did not think it would be good for the club and the team to communicate their decision in the coming days, expressing that “we have You have to see his situation and he said in the interview that he has not made any decision. Like any player who ends his contract he is free to decide but we know that he will always show that he wants the best for the It ‘s not a problem that’ s not defined yet, what we have to do is respect your decision and leave it alone. “
Beyond what refers to Messi, these were the most prominent phrases of Koeman during the press conference:
EUSEBIO AND THE NEW YEAR
“I wish everyone a happy new year, with many successes and health. Speaking of health, we must think of Eusebio. He is my friend, we are all waiting for his condition and I hope he recovers. Eusebio is a great guy and I want to wish- all the strength to him and his family. “
“I hope a lot for this year. First the matches with the public return because we all lack that, we lack atmosphere, a normal world … We are in the month of the elections and we will wait to know the future, but my role it’s just that we can’t think of anything other than the games we have now.
THE HUSBAND
“We know that any game is complicated and that there is a lot of competition. Huesca have conceded few goals at home and we have to be prepared. But, as I always say, the main thing is to improve as a team.”
“The cold doesn’t bother me, you have to accept it. We have to be put in from the start and play our game, whether it’s hot or cold.”
THE TEAM
“It’s normal for the team to have doubts. If you watch the last game you think how can we not win? Sometimes we lack effectiveness and have fewer individual mistakes but in the end what counts are the goals and we have to improve. When we got ahead on the scoreboard we played with more confidence. “
THE MARKET
“It wouldn’t be a disappointment if no one comes in the end. It would be a club issue, money. The only thing I’ve done with Ramon Planes is prepare for the future. We’re talking about young people and positions that need to be improved to We have a plan, but it is up to the new president to decide. “
“We want to strengthen the squad, of course, and yes it would be good, not to mention names, for some to come out now because they have to play games and on the team they have it complicated.”
“We won’t have much time to decide on signings. We’re ready for when the new president comes in to talk about sports … But I can’t change the date of the election.”
SUÁREZ
“I don’t regret their departure. No. I’ve always highlighted their qualities, it was a decision on their part and club. You can’t compare to a team like Atlético like ours. They concede few goals and with a goal sometimes is enough “.
THE CALENDAR AND THE LEAGUE
“We now have a lot of games and a lot away from home. I’m realistic and we have a distance of eleven points with the first so we have to wait. We can’t lose more points because we are not in a position to say we have a good chance of winning. we can’t lose another game if we want to think about fighting for the championship. “
“The reality is that The situation in the League is that we are eleven points away and you can’t say we will win the title. That’s realistic, but that doesn’t mean we’re not going to fight to win. Even in a complicated situation.” .
COUTINHO
“It’s another important loss. We also have Ansu Fati, Piqué, Sergi Roberto … almost all of them are starters in the team. We lack people and sometimes it’s a problem.”
“Coutinho is an important player for us and I don’t know when he will be well to play again because he is an important position and we have to think about how we can fix his loss.”
GRIEZMANN
“We need forwards to be effective, not just Griezmann. We need to improve up. I think in the attacking part we have to be more effective.”