BARCELONA – Ronald Koeman ran away from any excessive euphoria over Atlético’s draw against Getafe on Sunday and called for caution when “going game by game” thinking of winning a league that was just under a month ago. a chimera. “We are good, with a lot of energy and we are improving, but now it is important to win tomorrow in Huesca, which will not be easy.
The Barcelona coach had a moment to enhance the figure of Messi, who, if he plays Monday’s game, will be equal to 767 that Xavi played, resolving that he is “an incredible number, an extraordinary milestone like the one made by Xavi “And referring to the talk about the captain” everything is great: the number of games, goals, hat-tricks, titles … You can’t say much more than we hope, I hope, he continues to increase his number at Barça “.
“Atlético,” he warned when reminded of everything his team had interrupted, “is very competitive. I do not like to talk about other teams, because what we need to do is look at ourselves, but it has not nor has it decreased much. Yesterday they lacked effectiveness against Getafe, which has happened to us on other occasions. They had a lot of chances to win and they are still a very strong team, which will have to fight until the end to win the League. “
“It’s rare to play on Monday,” Koeman admitted, refusing once again to show his chest for Simeone’s team’s draw: “Today it’s sunny, but tomorrow it may rain again … I mean there’s no need to laugh at others Because it starts on its own. The team has been involved for a long time and not because of the results of others. Everyone is very involved, connected, they want to be hurt too, and you can see that atmosphere and energy on the ground. ” .
“What is shown is that there are no easy games. Huesca is the last, but I have seen more of their games and it gives a lot of problems; it will not be easy at all,” warned the coach, claiming that despite reducing distances “There is still a lot. It shows that we have improved and that no team has easy games, you have to put a lot to win. It does not depend on the rival because the lower ones fight not to be relegated and the upper ones to enter Europe. be very focused without looking at the table and know that we can’t fail. “
In this regard, he suggested that he has Messi and De Jong, despite the fact that both “are on a single penalty card … but this is not the time to think about it. I do not want to say that tomorrow’s match “It’s easier than Sunday, so I don’t see it that way … The first game that comes is the most important and I have to go with everything.”
“Every team has ups and downs and the one with the fewest drops is the one with the best chance of winning the title,” he summed up before an overview of the League, reiterating that “we have the experience that it is not easy to follow this rate of results. That’s why I say it’s important to go game by game, because today the sun rises, but tomorrow it may rain. You have to continue with this energy and be humble, always playing game without looking at others. “
“I have always said that it is a very long season. The points that Atlético obtained in the first half of the season are not normal, because they were very strong and very efficient. Our trajectory since the last defeat in Cádiz was very good. “And it shows that there will be a league until the last day and it will be difficult for everyone. For us, for Atlético and also for Real,” said Koeman, who did not hide his satisfaction with his team’s game. in Paris.
“Of course, the maximum a coach can ask for is the level we played the other day in Paris and be more efficient, of course. This is the case if we analyze this season that we lost points because we don’t have the efficiency that should have a team like him. Barça, we create a lot of opportunities “stressed the Barça coach, who stressed that” not even at 6-1 they told me that the team has as many opportunities as us. what is happening is that we need more efficiency and we are working on that ”.
Proud of the growth of his team, Koeman made it clear that this Barça “has a long future. There is a lot of quality, we have changed things and that is clear. It is the path we started and it is not over yet.” praised the rise of young people … But he took the opportunity to show his satisfaction with veterans: “Everything depends on the elderly because there is a lot of talk about young people but we must highlight the devotion and energy that Leo, Piqué, Busquets, Alba , Sergi Roberto … The team in general has a great future. With everyone “.
Delivered as a De Jong who he said would “be here for many years”, Koeman emphasized his improvement over last year and the responsibility he takes on, which I really like. To be a foreigner, you have to make a difference, this is always the case. Barça got what they needed from foreigners. To this day, Frenkie has had a wonderful season, you can’t ask for more. “
Satisfied with the reaction of the German Nagelsmann, who demanded respect from Koeman as he was related to Barça, the Dutchman considered his reaction “very good”, although he stated that it is not a circumstance that worries him: “I don’t have to answer for the coaches which a journalist took. Names are not missing and you have to fill in pages every day. The only certainty is that I have a contract, “he said.
Even less concise was when reference was made to the possible incorporation of Jordi Cruyff or his relationship with Laporta. About Jordi he agreed that “I can’t say much because these are things that the club has to decide. I know Jordi well, of course, as well as his family, and he may be a good candidate, but I didn’t talk about it, “he said, adding that the new president had” just enough “with him.
“We didn’t talk to the president too much, because there are a lot of parties and he has to be officially appointed. We talked about something during the trip to Paris, but we have to meet later. And these are not things to explain outside, but they are inside the Hill Club.