BARCELONA – Ronald Koeman made his displeasure with Riqui Puig clear, without having to mention him directly, but taking into account his name when asked whether the desire he is considering during all training with Ronald Araújo is lacking in other footballers such as the youth team.
“There are those in the squad who may have too much competition, but during practice they don’t do enough to make the coach think about changing things,” the Dutch coach revealed in a clear allusion to the midfielder.
It was a direct warning from Koeman against which he estimated little talent for Riqui during practice and that would explain his low participation since the season started, which is reduced to 83 minutes divided (always as a substitute) in 4 of the 18 he played. matches. Barça team.
“Araújo and Riqui are completely different. Riqui needs more physique … And yes, I love the people who work every day to improve and seize opportunities with both hands. Nowadays there are things other than quality. There are those too. have a lot of competition, but they don’t do enough in practice, ”he said, after praising the Uruguayan center-back without reservation.
“Araújo is a player who, despite his youth, is very strong physically and fast for his height. He has a strong character, commands, always trains hard, likes to listen, learns … He needs to improve in his first ball control, in circulation, in vertical passes …
“But we are talking about a very young player who has a great future and who will listen, who works a lot and is open to any advice,” he said, referring to the Uruguayan central defender, who later commented on Riqui as the other side of the coin.
It was not Koeman’s only arrow in the press conference ahead of Saturday’s game against Valencia, which he called a rival “ who will give us a hard time, who has already defeated Real Madrid and lost just one match. of the last six he’s played … But, as I always say, we depend on ourselves to come out very focused and play with a lot of energy ”.
Nor was Pjanic spared, whose fame was far from anticipated, by saying that the Bosnian “must prove the coach wrong. In the middle of the field there is a lot of competition, and if Aleñá came up against Real, it is because he is left-handed and we needed him because Pedri left.
“He (Pjanic) and everyone else have to wait for the chance and show that the coach is wrong. There is a lot of competition and only eleven can play. Some don’t play much and have to and train to show that they are very useful to the team. “
The Dutch coach specified that his team “ creates a lot of opportunities, which is the most important ”, although he acknowledged that “ we need to be more effective ”, resolving that in recent games there is “ more freedom in midfield, with players playing on different play positions. and that’s a complication for our rivals. “
Regarding his past at Valencia, Koeman recalled that “we won a cup” admitting that his adventure at Mestalla was “very difficult. You can’t work quietly there. I know some former players are commentators, everyone is looking for a life. It’s not the best memory of my career. I had to make decisions and I can make mistakes like anyone else. But at least we won something, the Copa del Rey. It’s a complicated place, which has seen many coach changes in 15 years. And it seems that sometimes there is a lack of peace to work quietly ”.
“I have always seen a good atmosphere in the dressing room, although of course it is easier to have an atmosphere of joy when you win the matches like the previous day,” he said when asked if the atmosphere was below the selection improved and he specified directly to the journalists that “you don’t see what happens during practice, or in the locker room before or after the games and you talk and give your opinion. Journalists have it easy,” he shot.
He also reiterated his complaints about the calendar and the schedules, confirming that he keeps thinking “the same thing. The calendar is crazy and if we win the Super Cup semi-finals in January, we’ll have one more match … There are a lot of away games and we kill the game. I like to play game by game, but we have to think about the trips, we get home late … We have to talk about how to solve such a tight season. “