FC Barcelona
coach
Ronald Koeman
explained that he has "hopes that
Leo Messi will
play the final" of the Spanish
Super Cup
this Sunday against
Athletic Club
after he was injured in the semifinals against
Real Sociedad
.
"Leo trained individually yesterday and today (Saturday) he will train with the group. The player will always have the last word because he knows his body. We will have to wait if the training has discomfort or not," added the Barça coach in this sense. press conference prior to the crash.
In addition, Koeman considered that "you always have more options to win with the best" and Messi "
is number one in the world
."
That is why he said that "with Leo the team is stronger in football, especially in terms of creativity and effectiveness that are sometimes lacking."
On the other hand, the Barcelona coach reported that "the
team is well and happy to play the final
, although it had a significant fatigue" in the semifinals due to reaching penalties.
But Koeman opined that "from Wednesday to Sunday there is enough time to recover."
Regarding the importance he gives to the Spanish Super Cup, the Dutch coach said that "it is a final and a title" and it will serve "to show that the team is on the right track."
In the semifinals against
Real Madrid
, Athletic put high pressure on it, which became one of the reasons for their triumph.
Asked how Barcelona will face it, Koeman replied that "if Athletic pushes up" the Barça team will have to play their "game to dominate".
And he admitted that on Wednesday the Royal Society "pressured them well" and
it cost Barcelona "to get into the game
."
"If it is not possible to sign ..."
Nor does he believe that the league game played recently against Athletic, which Barcelona won 2-3, serves as a reference for Sunday's final: "Each game is different, they will have analyzed it to improve things just like we have done, we will have to do an even better game than in San Mamés ".
Beyond the final, Koeman explained that he is "neither dissatisfied nor worried" as he has heard about the fact that the candidates for the club's presidency decided not to sign
Manchester City center-back Eric Garcia
in this winter market.
"I am aware of the limitations of the club and
if the transfer is not possible we will continue with what we have,
" he added.
In this sense, he revealed that "the representative of Neto has asked the club for an exit" and was answered "no because he is an important goalkeeper" and wants to have "all positions well covered".
In addition, he insisted that "there are young people for whom an outing could be good to have minutes."
Sergi Roberto and Ansu Fati
traveled with the Barça expedition to Seville despite being still injured.
"Sergi Roberto will be available before Ansu Fati" and "could be available in about two weeks," Koeman predicted.
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Know more
Ronald Koeman
Ansu Fati
Spain Supercup
Real society
Real Madrid
Leo Messi
FC Barcelona
LaLiga Santander 2020 - 2021In the absence of Messi, all the lights on Pedri
SoccerFrom Arabia to Al-Andalus, the change of the Super Cup in the year of the Covid
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