Ronald Koeman: Barcelona have not improved since my departure

The Dutchman believes Barca are still far from reaching their best form under Xavi.

Former Barcelona coach Ronaldo Koeman has insisted Barcelona need to show more support for their managers.

The club legend spent roughly a year at Camp Nou before the Barca sacked him in October 2021. Despite winning the Copa del Rey with the Catalans, Koeman couldn’t get the team back on track after the departure of Lionel Messi.

Barca have shown promising signs of improvement under their new manager Xavi Hernandez. Koeman has called everyone to support the former midfielder. However, he feels the club are nowhere near their deserved place.

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Speaking in a golf event at Barcelona, the 59-year-old said: “The situation of Barca, of the team and of the club, is the same as when I was [there].

“It means that changing the coach does not always mean being able to improve. The situation of the club hurts me.

“From January I will be the coach of the Netherlands, but I ask for maximum support for Xavi. He is a good coach, a legend at home and it is not his fault that Barca is in this situation.

“The only thing I ask is support for Xavi, I haven’t had the full support of a president, I hope he [Laporta] has learned and does support Xavi. I didn’t have support from the club and I hope Xavi does.

“Internally, you can say you have doubts, but on the outside there has to be support.”

Barcelona will push to bounce back from their shock defeat against Rayo Vallecano when they host Mallorca on Sunday. Let’s see if Xavi’s side can hold on to their top-four spot until the end of the season.