According to a report from Spain, FC Barcelona already has the ideal Ronald Koeman replacement for the upcoming season in La Liga.
Despite winning the Copa del Rey with FC Barcelona, it appears Ronald Koeman’s job is not safe yet. When the season started, the local media that was against Josep Maria Bartomeu always tried to get the Dutchman out of his position. Even after Bartomeu left, they attempted to place other managers in his place through puff pieces. But Koeman remains stoic against all this criticism and he overcame many obstacles.
The only chance he had against these critics was getting far in the Champions League final, but that didn’t happen. All this pressure has taken a toll on president Joan Laporta, who already seems to have a plan B for Koeman. If Barcelona doesn’t win the Spanish La Liga, the club is already going through possible names who can replace the manager. At the top of the list, there’s a man who has been on it for quite some time.
Laporta’s choice to replace Koeman.
According to Deportes Cuatro from Madrid, Joan Laporta already has a plan in case Ronald Koeman doesn’t win La Liga. The only chance he has to remain at FC Barcelona is if he wins the double with the club. If this doesn’t happen, the president already contacted Xavi Hernandez as a potential replacement. The former Catalan midfielder became a manager in Qatar’s Al-Sadd and has won several trophies in the process.
However, Frank Lampard’s transition from Derby County to Chelsea serves as a cautionary tale of a manager who can fail without experience at the highest level. This could easily happen to Xavi as the level of demand is vastly different at FC Barcelona compared to Al-Sadd. If he agrees on this new challenge, the pressure will be extremely high considering Koeman won titles this season.
Be sure not to miss out on the latest news about Xavi Hernandez
Download our brand new App and follow your favorite players, clubs, and much more
