La Liga
DESPITE CLEAR OUT AT BARCA, MESSI NOT FOR SALE
New Barcelona coach Ronald Koeman is expected to oversee a massive overhaul of the squad as he leads them into a new era after their weaknesses were exposed in the 8-2 thrashing by Bayern Munich, president Josep Maria Bartomeu has said.
Koeman, one of Barca’s greatest ever players who was yesterday confirmed as the club’s manager through 2022, will oversee the transition alongside Ramon Planes, the new technical secretary after Eric Abidal left the club.
“The technical secretary and new coach will take drastic measures and they will affect certain players, who we should give a proper farewell to,” Bartomeu said in an interview with the club’s official television channel on Tuesday.
He did not say which players would depart but referred to seven players who were not for sale: Captain Lionel Messi, 33, goalkeeper Marc-Andre ter Stegen, 28, defenders Clement Lenglet, 25, and Nelson Semedo, 26, French winger Ousmane Dembele, 23, and recent signings Antoine Griezmann, 29, and Frenkie de Jong, 23.
Gerard Pique, 33, and 32-year-old Sergio Busquets, who have been at the club since 2008, are the longest-serving players after Messi. They were omitted from Bartomeu’s list, meaning they could face an exit after 12 trophy-laden years.
Jordi Alba, 31, Ivan Rakitic, 32, and Luis Suarez, 33 – crucial members of the team that won the treble in 2015 as well as the La Liga titles in 2016, 2018 and last year – were also not mentioned in the list.
“These are players who have given their best days to the club and been part of the club’s best years,” added Bartomeu. “Some of those decisions have already been taken by others and some will be taken soon by different people. The players will not be consulted on these decisions. It’s very important to listen to opinions but the coach and technical secretary will take the decision together.”
Barca will face a challenge in selling some players due to having the biggest wage bill in world football, at a time when clubs are facing serious financial difficulties due to the Covid-19 pandemic, which has stripped them of match-day revenue and ticket sales.
Players like Alba, Busquets and Suarez have all indicated their desire to stay, while persuading Messi – whose contract expires next year – to remain will be high on Koeman’s to-do list.
The 57-year-old, who had been in charge of the Dutch national team since 2018, will also need to find a way to get the best out of his compatriot de Jong. The midfielder starred at Ajax in the middle of a 4-3-3 formation but has often been played out of position.
In his first press conference yesterday, Koeman vowed to stay true to the club’s possession-based style.
“I’m Dutch and the Dutch like to have the ball and play well. I have experience and I’m ready to coach Barca,” he said. “We have to look for work and enjoy. It’s the first thing I’ll tell the players, they have to enjoy the football.”
He is set to lead by example after landing his dream job.
“Today is a day to be happy and proud,” he said. “Everyone knows Barcelona, to me, is my home.”
REUTERS, AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE
Barcelona turned the Clasico into a coronation on Sunday, swatting aside Real Madrid 2-0 at a roaring Camp Nou to claim their 29th LaLiga title.
Hansi Flick’s side moved to an unassailable 91 points, 14 clear of second-placed Real with three games remaining.
The triumph capped a dominant campaign in which they lost only four league matches. Villarreal are third on 69 points.
Real arrived needing victory to keep their wafer-thin title hopes alive, but Marcus Rashford crushed those aspirations just nine minutes into the game.
Antonio Rudiger fouled Ferran Torres just outside the box, and Rashford bent a superb free kick into Thibaut Courtois’ top-left corner, giving Barcelona the early lead and sending the home crowd into raptures.
Nine minutes later, Barcelona doubled the lead. Fermin Lopez crossed into the area, and Dani Olmo produced a clever backheel that sent the ball into the path of Torres, who rifled a fierce strike into the top corner.
The win completed back-to-back league titles for Flick, who also delivered the LaLiga and Copa del Rey double in his first season last year.
Both sides were heavily depleted. Barcelona were without Lamine Yamal, Raphinha and Jules Kounde from the starting lineup.
Real’s list of missing players was longer, with Eder Militao, Dani Carvajal, Ferland Mendy, Arda Guler and Rodrygo all absent. Federico Valverde also missed out after suffering a head injury following a midweek changing-room fight with team-mate Aurelien Tchouameni, with both players fined 500,000 euros over the incident.
Kylian Mbappe did not travel because of a leg muscle injury, forcing manager Alvaro Arbeloa to start Vinicius Jr alongside academy striker Gonzalo, with Jude Bellingham and Brahim Diaz pushing forward in support.
Real threatened through Vinicius and Gonzalo before halftime, but Barcelona carried the greater menace. Courtois kept the visitors alive with fine saves from Torres and Rashford before the interval.
Barcelona continued to press after the break, Rashford repeatedly tormenting left back Fran Garcia down the right, while Courtois produced another sharp stop with his left foot to deny Torres from point-blank range in the 56th minute.
Bellingham had a goal ruled out for offside in the 62nd minute, and Joan Garcia was quick to deny Vinicius in a one-on-one, preventing the Brazilian from lifting the ball over him.
Real kept probing late on, but there was little bite in their attack, and Barcelona calmly saw out the win before the title celebrations began.
“This title is even more special because we won it at home against Real Madrid. Now it’s time to enjoy it with the fans,” Frenkie de Jong told Spanish broadcaster Movistar Plus.
“Every title has to be celebrated in style. Especially LaLiga, which is a year-long competition. We’ve clearly been the best in Spain.”
-Reuters
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Real Zaragoza goalkeeper Esteban Andrada was sent off for punching Huesca captain Jorge Pulido in a fiery Spanish second division clash on Sunday that descended into a mass brawl, with Huesca keeper Dani Jimenez dismissed for punching Andrada.
Zaragoza’s Dani Tasende was also dismissed after a VAR review of the brawl.
With tensions simmering in a relegation scrap, Argentine Andrada lost his composure moments before the final whistle. Ignoring the run of play, he approached Pulido and struck him in the face with his right hand, sparking chaotic scenes eight minutes into stoppage time.
It was an ugly flashpoint in a match already short on finesse and heavy on nerves, and could carry serious consequences for the goalkeeper.
Huesca manager Jose Luis did not attempt to defend the scenes.
“It’s hard to explain; I think it’s a complete loss of control. I can put myself in their shoes, given what was at stake and all. But it’s unjustifiable. It’s just that I don’t know what to do or how to stop it; a brawl breaks out,” he said.
“It’s ugly; this was supposed to be a celebration of Aragonese football. I’d like people to talk about the match, even though it was ugly, with little play but a lot of hard work.”
Oscar Sielva’s goal secured a 1-0 win for Huesca, lifting them to 36 points in 19th place, while Zaragoza remain second-bottom on 35.
-Reuters
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Joan Laporta has been re-elected as Barcelona president after winning over 68 percent of the vote and will begin his second consecutive term, and fourth overall, from July 1, the club said on Sunday.
The 63-year-old took office in March 2021 and stepped down last month in line with club statutes in order to seek re-election.
Laporta described the election as a “celebration of democracy and civic responsibility” and said the tasks ahead included finishing work on the Camp Nou and strengthening the men’s team.
-Reuters
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