BARCELONA: Lionel Messi is now in Barcelona’s previous and the membership should dwell within the current, coach Ronald Koeman stated on Saturday, as his facet put together for a brand new La Liga season with out their biggest ever participant — and battling by means of a monetary disaster.
Barca are nonetheless reeling from the departure of their all-time high scorer to Paris St Germain after being unable to afford to offer the Argentine a brand new contract.
However Koeman stated it was time to look to the longer term with Sunday’s recreation at house to Actual Sociedad arising quick.
“It’s painful for all Barcelona fans given what Messi has done for the club, but we cannot live in the past,” Koeman informed a information convention. “I’m excited for the brand new season, and I hope the followers are enthusiastic too. We’ve got to dwell within the current and never the previous.
“People have spoken a lot about Messi and that’s normal because of how effective he was and his quality. We won’t have him around anymore, but we still have a very strong squad. There’s no excuses now, we’ve got games to play and points to win.”
Barca did have some excellent news as they had been capable of register new signings Eric Garcia and Memphis Depay after Gerard Pique agreed to take a wage reduce to assist carry the membership in keeping with the league’s monetary honest play guidelines.
The membership stated in an announcement Pique had agreed to take a ‘significant’ pay reduce, including they had been in talks with the opposite membership captain Sergio Busquets, Jordi Alba and Sergi Roberto over a squad-wide discount to assist ease the membership’s monetary woes.
“We all know the club’s situation and that it needs help so you have to appreciate the attitude of Gerard, of Sergi Roberto and Busquets,” added Koeman. “It proves they are real club men.”
Revealed in Daybreak, August 15th , 2021
