True.

It was not a public row.

Perhaps not a reproach either.

But Ronald Koeman, who has a hard time not being transparent, did something unusual in the Barcelona media pulpit: assume the irregular moment of Leo Messi.

"His performance could be better," said the Dutch coach.

Right after, yes, the coach rushed to sweeten the situation.

It was not advisable to go much further.

"But Messi is happy. He wants to be the captain of this team. I have no complaints. He has also had a bit of bad luck. Against Getafe he sent a ball to the post in a very good play. I have no doubts with him," he completed Koeman.

Messi, who returns to the Champions League this Tuesday with Barcelona in the duel at the Camp Nou that will face the Hungarian Ferencvaros, accredits statistics that distance him from his heavenly routine.

The Argentine has scored a single goal in the first four official games with Barça.

Penalty against Villarreal on September 27.

Although Koeman tried not to release the handbrake throughout his appearance despite the last defeat in Getafe.

"I'm not disappointed. I think all the players try their best. Of course we have things in the game to improve. But we train with a lot of intensity. I see the team happy. There is no time to be sad."

Koeman had to link his speech with the recurring debate about Griezmann's misadventure, who could not improve his performance at the Coliseum Alfonso Pérez either despite leaving the right wing and acting as a false striker: "Of course we can have more performance up. And Griezmann he is one of the attackers. He himself knows his situation perfectly. But the only thing a player can do is work hard to change it. "

Koeman has no choice but to trust his referents before the start of a Champions League in which it is difficult to repair a Barcelona that comes from the collapses in Rome, Liverpool and Lisbon: "Knowing what has happened lately, we are not the top favorites But we can go far. "

According to the criteria of The Trust Project

Know more

  • Ronald Koeman

  • Leo Messi

  • Getafe

  • First division

  • Copa del Rey

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