iPhone | iPad
Android
Huawei
Other UAE leaders have also expressed their sorrow on the tragic incident
KT APPDOWNLOAD
Barca coach Koeman has few fond memories of Valencia
Ronald Koeman looks on during the Spanish league match against Levante. — AFP
Barcelona - Few could argue with Koeman’s analysis of Valencia, who have appointed 12 coaches in the 12 years since he was fired.
Barcelona coach Ronald Koeman has called Valencia a difficult club to manage as he prepares to face his former team for the first time since ending a tumultuous spell in charge in 2008.
The Dutchman’s time at Valencia was arguably his worst period in a long coaching career, witnessing a dressing room revolt, fan protests and a string of terrible results which led to him being sacked with the team on the brink of relegation.
Valencia did manage to win the Copa del Rey shortly before he was sacked, however, the last trophy lifted by the team until they beat Barca in the 2019 Spanish Cup final.
“Valencia was not my best memory as a coach. I may have made some bad decisions when I was there,” the 57-year-old Koeman told a news conference on Friday.
“It was a short stay, but at least we managed to win the Cup. Valencia is a difficult place, they have had a lot of changes in the last 15 years and it’s not a peaceful environment in which to work.”
Few could argue with Koeman’s analysis of Valencia, who have appointed 12 coaches in the 12 years since he was fired.
Current boss Javi Gracia, meanwhile, offered his resignation earlier this season before withdrawing it, claiming the club had broken promises made to him about strengthening the squad.
Valencia are in mid-table with 14 points from 13 games this season but have managed to beat champions Real Madrid as well as early pacesetters Real Sociedad.
Barca have also faced many problems this term but head into the game with renewed confidence after beating visiting Sociedad 2-1 on Wednesday with a performance widely hailed as their best under Koeman. They are now fifth, six points off top spot.
The coach challenged his side to build on the momentum as well as show more ruthlessness in front of goal as they look to win three league games in a row for the first time this season.
“We would like to play like we did against Real Sociedad in every game and I hope we can stay on that path and win again,” he added.
“Every game we play depends on us, and we have to play with the same level of concentration and energy. We’re a team that creates a lot of chances, we’re playing some great attacking football lately but we need to learn to kill games off more.”
More news from
All measures carried out by security entities are in compatibility with the rules stated by the Constitution and laws
Auguste Rodin buries the ghosts of his Guineas flop to win Britain's most famous horse race as Dubai hopefuls disappoint
Their vessel broke down near the coast of Libya and the sailors were taken into captivity by a local militia
The team is looking to complete the treble after bagging the Football Association Cup
The BBC, which is broadcasting the game in Britain, timed the goal at 12.91 seconds
Many of the passengers were still in shock and yet to tell their families that they nearly died in one of the country's worst rail disasters in decades
As per the information received till now from the South Eastern Railway, there are 288 casualties from the Odisha train crash