Ronald Koeman deserved to continue as Barca boss, says Jordi Alba

Martin Macdonald

• Updated: 10 Jun 2021 09:07 BST

Barcelona star Jordi Alba insists Ronald Koeman deserved to keep his role as head coach of the Blaugrana.

The Dutchman took over in the summer of 2020 after a disappointing 2019/20 campaign in which the club failed to win a major trophy for the first time in 12 years.

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Koeman did guide Barcelona to the Copa del Rey in his first season in charge, but they failed in La Liga, finishing third, and in the Champions League, being knocked out at the last 16 stage.

A couple of weeks ago newly elected president Joan Laporta said the club would undertake an evaluation of Koeman's performance before deciding whether or not he would be the man to take charge next season.

Eventually, Barcelona confirmed Koeman as staying for at least another year.

Alba, an influential figure in the dressing room at Camp Nou, believes it was the right decision.

“Koeman has done a great job since he has joined," he said.

"We have improved. He deserved to continue.”

Barcelona have already started planning for next season by acquiring Sergio Aguero and Eric Garcia on free transfers from Manchester City, while Emerson Royal joined from Real Betis.

Alba has praised the business the club has conducted so far this summer.

“I like all of them. I think the arrival of Aguero and Eric Garcia is great," the Spaniard insisted.

"They have spoken to me well about Kun and I know Eric is good while also being a homegrown player.”

Koeman's support from the players

Alba is not the only player who has publicly supported Koeman recently, as when it was unclear if he would keep his job or not, compatriot Frenkie de Jong campaigned for him to stay.

“A lot is being written now. I haven’t had any contact with people from the club now, nor with Koeman, so I don’t know what’s going on. What I hear, you hear too. I’ll wait,” De Jong told Nu.nl.

“I don’t know if that’s true that Koeman will leave. I can’t judge that. All I can say is that I have a good relationship with Koeman. For me he is a good coach. So I hope he stays.

“Barcelona is, of course, one of the biggest clubs in the world. If you don’t become champions, there’s always nagging. So in that sense it doesn’t surprise me that there is speculation.”