Koeman: “I knew that the financial situation here wasn’t very good, but I didn’t know it was this bad. Joan Laporta didn’t know that too. I think he was just as shocked as me. We are all in the same boat here.”
Koeman: “I understand Laporta’s feeling, he is a fan of this club. I don’t like it too when we lose 3-0 vs Bayern Munich. But I look at the situation in a sober way. They bring on Gnabry, Hern?ndez & Coman. We have to bring on young talents from our youth system.”
Koeman: “There is a lot of respect here (in the streets of Barcelona). People are not crazy here. They know the situation of the club, and they are happy that I bring in the young players. That’s what I meant with my “thanks to me this club as a future” quote...”
Koeman: “Messi covered all the flaws at this club. He is so good. Of course he still had some good players around him, but he was the one who made the difference. And he made everyone around him look better than they are. This is not me criticizing, this is my observation.”
Koeman: “Messi is a 10/10 in every aspect of the game. In recognizing situations on the pitch, in finishing, in controlling the ball, in putting the right speed behind a pass. It’s not normal, it’s not normal.”
Koeman: “When I just became manager here, I went to Messi’s house. He was extremely concerned and interested. The start of last season was difficult and he apologized to me later on for that. Messi needs to have an idea that there’s a future within the club.”
Koeman: “The only way I will quit at this club is when my messages don’t arrive at the players anymore. That’s when I will say: “Okay, I am done here.” But this is not the case. Every day that I am on the pitch with my players is a nice day, that’s how I drive to the club.”
Stunning.
