Joaquin Sanchez is still irked by his experience under Ronald Koeman and can’t understand how he became the Barcelona manager.
Koeman had a poor six-month spell at Valencia in 2007/08 and lost 14 of his 34 games (W11 D9), which eventually ended in a dismissal.
He may have won the Copa del Rey, but nothing else appeared to go his way with stars like Joaquin. The Spaniard, a known quality performer in LaLiga, endured a torrid time under the Dutchman and is still not ready to forgive and forget.
Koeman even aimed a parting shot at Joaquin after Valencia fired him by saying: “He is a player who cost Valencia €30 million, but whose performances are worth €30.”
The now-Barcelona boss also suggested Joaquin’s support of three players he cast aside in Albelda, Angulo, and Canizares had helped create a bad atmosphere in the locker room.
🚨⚽ @JoaquinArte, en @ElLarguero
😒"Mi experiencia con Koeman en el Valencia no fue agradable"
🤔 KIKO: "¿Si fueras presidente del Betis, te lo llevabas de entrenador?
😡@JoaquinArte: "Ni de utillero Kiko. Nos dijimos de todo. El sábado no me va a saludar ni le voy a saludar" pic.twitter.com/jcJUivyHnk
— El Larguero (@ellarguero) November 2, 2020
“It was not the most beautiful experience of my sporting career,” Joaquin, who returned to his boyhood club Real Betis in 2015, told El Larguero.
“It was not a pleasant experience, but as I always say: one has to live with everything and what happened at that time.
“I do not want to talk about this issue because honestly, it hurts me what happened there, I had a bad time.”
Koeman has since coached AZ, Feyenoord, Southampton, Everton, and the Netherlands national team before taking the top job at Barcelona in August.
When asked if he would sign the Dutchman to coach Real Betis, Joaquin replied: “Not even as kitman!”
Real Betis midfielder Joaquin on his former manager Ronald Koeman.
They play Barcelona on Saturday 👀 pic.twitter.com/waAe9zbeFM
— ESPN FC (@ESPNFC) November 3, 2020
The 39-year-old winger and Koeman will cross paths once again on Saturday when Real Betis head to Camp Nou for a La Liga match.
“I turned the page, we told each other everything,” added Joaquin.
“Fortunately, it did not last long and we were able to save the year by ending as well as possible because the year was complicated.
“[This weekend], he is not going to greet me and I am not going to greet him.”
Be sure not to miss out on the latest news about FC Barcelona
Download our brand new App and follow your favorite players, clubs, and much more
