The Blaugrana confirmed that Ronald Koeman will no longer take charge of the first team following their 1-0 defeat against Rayo Vallecano in La Liga. The loss against the Madrid-based side was their second in quick succession and fourth since the start of the season.
The club confirmed the Dutchman’s departure through an official release, thanking him for his services and confirming that he will bid farewell to the squad on Thursday, October 28.
The writing had been on the wall for Koeman, who lost fan support slowly across his spell. The Dutchman’s reluctance to abide by Barcelona’s principles – their 4-3-3 formation, among others – his team’s performances on the pitch, and his comments off it, all played their part in his eventual dismissal.
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Just three days after losing El Clasico, Barcelona suffered their second-straight loss against a Madrid-based side – their third of the domestic season already. Radamel Falcao scored the only goal of the game in the 30th minute after some excellent work by midfielder Oscar Trejo, who stole the ball off an unsuspecting Sergio Busquets before playing the forward through on goal. Despite being closed down eventually, Falcao kept his composure, turned inside, and curled the ball past Marc-Andre ter Stegen with ease.
Ironically, two of the players Koeman brought to the club in the summer, Memphis Depay and Luuk De Jong, missed glorious opportunities to level the scores. Depay had his spot-kick saved by Rayo custodian Stole Dimitrievski; De Jong fired his shot over the crossbar from distance with the goalkeeper some way off his line.
The latest defeat left Barcelona ninth in the league after ten matches – a record that ultimately resulted in Koeman’s dismissal. The club wants the former captain Xavi Hernandez to replace Koeman, reports Gerard Romero.
Fabrizio Romano, meanwhile, confirms that talks between the Spaniard and Barcelona have already taken place, and more are scheduled to be held between the two clubs in the immediate future. Barcelona B’s Sergi Barjuan is the alternative.
