Wrong Time for Koeman to coach Barça.

Barcelona and Netherlands fan Ibrahim Ayyub gives his opinion on the news that Ronald Koeman will be leaving his post as Oranje boss to take over at the Catalan giants.

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The news that Ronald Koeman was going to become FC Barcelona’s new manager was surprising and disappointing. Koeman ended the Oranje’s ordeal of mediocrity when they qualified for an international tournament for the first time since 2014. This summer was supposed to be the pinnacle of his time with the Oranje, with him stepping down upon the conclusion of Euro 2020 and seeking new challenges. However, the Covid-19 pandemic disrupted his plans, and everyone else’s, and his international competition debut as a manager was put on hold for another year. Furthermore, Koeman suffered a scare when he was recently hospitalized with heart problems, which made 2020 an unusual year for the manager.

For those who were not aware, Ronald Koeman’s nickname during his playing days was Tintin. The popular character from The Adventures of Tintin has been on many adventures, but none will be as daring as Koeman’s new adventure as Barça’s manager for the upcoming season; Tintin in the land of Dumpster Fires. It pains me that Koeman would abandon his post as the Oranje manager to join FC Barcelona, especially when this is the worst time to join Barça.

It seems that Koeman is following his heart, and not his brain in making this decision. It has always been Koeman’s dream to become Barça’s manager. The former Barça player is a legend who was always linked to the Barça job, following his successful tenure as the Oranje manager. However, this is the worst time to join FC Barcelona who is in the midst of a crisis. Koeman is accepting to take over Barça with hardly any time for a proper preseason; the Spanish league kicks off on September 12. He is inheriting an awful squad and because of Barça’s dire financial situation, it is rather doubtful they’ll be making any good signings. Oh, and the team’s starting goalkeeper, Marc-André ter Stegen, will be undergoing knee surgery and could be out three to four months.

Lastly, the club will be having elections in March 2021 for a new president, so his stay in Barcelona could be short-lived if a new president opts to hire his own manager. Koeman’s heart scare probably made him realize that life is too short and he should not pass up the chance to manage his former club. However, this job is not for the weak of heart and perhaps Koeman should think twice before accepting Barça’s offer and keep his word that he will see out his contract with the Oranje. Then again, he may be out of a job before Euro 2020 kicks off next summer and who knows, maybe the Oranje would take him back.

Time for Bartomeu to Resign and Call for New Elections.

 

Mission Accomplished. Sandro Rosell and Josep Maria Bartomeu have reached their goal of creating their own legacy apart from Joan Laporta’s legacy. They inherited one of the greatest teams to ever set foot on a pitch and set about on changing the club’s identity that of success to that of farcical failure, all in the pursuit of making the club profitable. This is the end. The masterminds behind the downfall of FC Barcelona must leave now so that the members can elect someone more competent to run this club.

Yesterday’s embarrassing defeat should bring down the curtains on Bartomeu and his stooges. Pique spoke to the media following that demoralizing loss and had this to say, “We can’t be in Europe like this. The club needs changes, structural ones, not players or managers. I’m the first to leave if new blood is needed, because now, we’ve hit rock bottom. We can’t keep covering it up any longer.” Barto also spoke to the media, calling the loss a disaster and that “we have not been the team we are, or the club we represent. We are very sorry for that.” It was great to see him squirm in front of the cameras, after the Barça players and Setién were a public humiliation for the whole world to see.

Nonetheless, it's too late for apologies from Barto. This president and his board have become experts in incompetence, and the idea of allowing Barto and his board from making more decisions that shape Barça's future would be grossly negligent. For far too long, they have been allowed to run this club to the ground with their poor decisions not just how they ran the football team, but with La Masia, the basketball team and the other professional teams. The time has come for them to leave now.

Barça continue to regress, with every Champions League exit worse than the last one. Last year, Jordi Alba responded to criticism from fans after their 4-0 loss to Liverpool by saying that Barcelona have spoiled people by winning so many titles. Yes, we have been spoiled. We have one of the greatest footballers in history and the club surrounded him with mediocre players and coaches. Barto’s blueprint for success resembles a house of cards next to an open window during a tornado. The time has come to for someone else to run the club.