Madrid (AFP)

"We will fight to put Barça back on top," assured new FC Barcelona coach Ronald Koeman on Wednesday at the Camp Nou during his presentation to the press.

"It's a happy day. Everyone knows Barça was for me. It's my home. It's a challenge, it won't be easy, it will require the best of me, and I love That. It was a dream, and that dream has come true. We will fight to put Barça back on top, "said the Dutch technician during his presentation.

Koeman (57) appeared in mask alongside FC Barcelona president Josep Maria Bartomeu and signed a poster in his image, before sitting down in the seat he will occupy at Camp Nou for the next two seasons for photographers .

"Welcome home", launched President Bartomeu to begin his speech to the technician who wore the Blaugrana jersey as a player (1989-1995), and who even brought back a C1 to the club in 1992.

"It was written, one day, Ronald Koeman was to coach Barça. This moment has come," said Bartomeu.

"I signed, I am the coach of FC Barcelona, ​​and from now on, we will work. We have to make changes. The image of the other day is not the one we wants to dismiss, neither me, nor me the players, nor the leaders, nor the supporters, nobody ", struck the new technician blaugrana, five days after the terrible 8-2 cashed against Bayern Munich in the quarter-finals of the League of champions Friday.

Asked about the style of play he was going to breathe into this sinking FC Barcelona, ​​Koeman replied: "I am Dutch. And we, the Dutch, prefer to have the ball rather than run behind".

While the leadership promised "profound changes" on Monday, Koeman said "if we have to make decisions, we will make them", but rejected the term "revolution". And he does not think of upsetting the backbone of the team.

"A 31, 32-year-old player, he's not finished. It's all about the hunger he has to want to be at this club and to give the maximum," he said, while executives like Luis Suarez, Sergio Busquets Jordi Alba are notably announced in the press as potential starters.

As for the superstar Messi, Koeman was confident: "He has one more year of contract, he is part of Barça. I do not know if I have to convince him. He is the best player in the world. And the best , you want to have him in your team, not against you. As a coach, I love the idea of ​​coaching Messi. He wins games on his own. I will talk to him, but I hope he will still have many years here ", wished the legendary ex-N.4 of the club.

© 2020 AFP