Guardiola: Koeman is the ideal coach for Barcelona next season, and Laporta is convinced

Posted Tuesday, June 08, 2021 by Marca.com

Pep Guardiola recently enjoyed a round of golf with former Barcelona teammate and current head coach Ronald Koeman, and the Manchester City boss is convinced that the Dutchman is the right man to lead the Blaugrana in the coming season.

The City coach was full of praise for Koeman's job in his first season in the dugout at the Camp Nou and believes he deserves a second campaign to prove his worth.

"He is a friend of mine. Coaches are always in a weaker position when we do not win, and a stronger one when we win," Guardiola said at the Legends Trophy in Mallorca.

"I have been at three different clubs, but nothing is comparable to Barcelona or [Real] Madrid, where the repercussions are much greater, where everything is more difficult to control privately.

"I discussed this with Ronald, we are exposed to this. If you do not want this, do not dedicate yourself to it, but he is strong and has a lot of experience.

"He is the ideal coach for next season. I am very happy and the president [Joan Laporta] is convinced.

"It has been a difficult year for everyone, and Ronald deserves another year, with fans in the stadium. Besides, the second years are always better."

It took a while for Laporta to sit down with Koeman and confirm his future and, while Guardiola isn't sure why it took longer than expected, he is sure that correct conclusion was reached.

"The important thing is that they are convinced that staying together is the best option and I have no doubts," he said.

"We [coaches] are the weak part of the whole process, we depend on results, and [Koeman] knows it.

"He understands perfectly that after the end of the league season, everyone needed a few days or weeks to make the best decision but, in the end, by talking, they met and [Koeman] will continue as the coach of Barcelona."

Barcelona recently signed two players from Manchester City on free transfers, in Eric Garcia and Sergio Aguero.

"They are two great signings, very accurate moves. Kun [Aguero] is a goal scorer, and with Eric I already told Koeman that he has made a spectacular signing," Guardiola said.

"He is a gem of a boy. He is very intelligent.

"He will be one of the captains of the next decade."