Posted by Whatever happens in tonight’s away game against champions Atletico Madrid, Barcelona president Joan Laporta has endorsed Ronald Koeman to stay on as coach.
Barcelona’s board of directors met into the early hours of Wednesday morning after the team’s 3-0 Champions League loss to Benfica, and preliminary contact has been made with potential replacements, with a shortlist of four men under consideration.
Laporta accompanied the team to the Spanish capital for tonight’s match and is said to have spoken with Koeman today.
But in the hours leading up to Barcelona trip to the Metropolitano to take on Atletico Madrid, Laporta said: ‘Koeman deserves more time for various reasons, He is an important figure at this club and he decided to come here in what was a very difficult moment, I believe in the team and even more so when we get players back fit again. He deserves more time. Whatever happens in this game he will continue.’
The four individuals on the shortlist to replace Koeman if he leaves have a number of issues. Xavi and Laporta are both undecided on when he should take the role. Robert Martinez’s contract with the Belgian football federation would have to be bought out. Only in December would Marcelo Gallardo be eligible to leave River Plate. Pirlo, while favored by Laporta, does not have the support of the rest of the Barcelona board.
Source : daily mail