Barcelona coach: Messi's departure is painful, but life goes on

Barcelona coach Ronald Koeman said on Saturday that Lionel Messi is now a thing of the past and that his La Liga side should focus on the present.

The Dutch coach's statements came at a press conference while the Catalan team was preparing for its first match in the new season of the local league, tomorrow, Sunday, against the guest Real Sociedad, after the departure of Argentine star Messi, to Paris Saint-Germain, after the failure of attempts to extend the contract between the two parties.

Koeman pointed to the need to focus on the present and the future.

The coach also said that Messi's departure is "painful for all Barcelona fans, given what the player has done for the club, but we cannot live in the past.

"I'm excited ahead of the new season and I hope the fans are excited as well. We have to live in the present, not the past."

Koeman added, "People have talked a lot about Messi, and this is normal due to his efficiency and outstanding capabilities. He is really gone, but we still have a very strong team and there are no excuses now, and we have to win and collect points."

There is other good news for Barcelona after it managed to sign its new players Eric Garcia and Memphis Depay and after Gerard Pique agreed to reduce his salary in line with the rules of financial fair play for the tournament.

Barcelona indicated that it is in talks with other players to reduce their salaries as well in order to alleviate the financial troubles experienced by the club.

On these aspects, Koeman said, "Everyone knows the club's situation, and this needs a helping hand."

Koeman confirmed the readiness of Pedri and Eric Garcia to participate in tomorrow's match, despite their participation in the final of the football competition in the Tokyo Olympics with Spain last week.

But Barcelona will play the match deprived of the efforts of more than one prominent player due to injury, such as striker Osman Dembele and new player Sergio Aguero.

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