Koeman: I’ll still be Barcelona coach next season

Robin Bairner

• Updated: 19 May 2021 15:24 BST
• 3 min read

Barcelona head coach Ronald Koeman does not think he will lose his job over the course of the summer.

The Catalans have endured a relatively disappointing campaign by their own high standards. They exited the Champions League in comprehensive style against Paris Saint-Germain and are third in La Liga, albeit with a game in hand over Atletico Madrid and Real Madrid, who are five and two points better off respectively.

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Nevertheless, the context in which Koeman took the job was complicated as the spectre of financial troubles hit the club combined with an unhappy squad due to the previous president.

Improved form

Indeed, Barcelona’s form has improved significantly in recent weeks, with eight victories in their last 10 matches. The only fixtures in this run they did not win were against PSG, a 1-1 away drawn, and Real Madrid, a 2-1 away loss.

Koeman, then, has reason to be more optimistic over his personal situation.

“The president has always shown me his support and trust from the first day,” he said. “Until I say otherwise and he continues to speak like this them I see myself as coach for next season.

“I also have a contract.”

Indeed, Koeman, who has overseen 47 matches since taking charge in the summer and has picked up 32 victories in the process, has a deal that runs through until the end of June 2022.

Barcelona face a critical match in La Liga on Sunday when they will play Villarreal, with anything other than a victory liable to be fatal in terms of their prospects of winning the title.