30th September, 2021
Ex-Inter Milan and Chelsea coach Antonio Conte and ex-Juventus Andrea Pirlo are speculated to be on a target list to replace under-fire Barcelona coach Ronald Koeman.
Koeman has come under greater pressure following his side’s 3-0 Champions League defeat at Benfica and the loss to Bayern, by the same margin.
Spanish newspapers also reported that Barcelona mid-field legend, Xavi, is under consideration.
And so is ex-Germany coach Joachim Low, according to Barcelona-based journalist Gerard Romero.
Xavi currently manages Qatari club Al Sadd and led them to the semi-finals of Asia’s Champions League in 2019.
Earlier reports said the Barcelona board summoned an emergency meeting today after the Lisbon mauling of the Catalan giants.
The Catalans were beaten 3-0 in Portugal as things go from bad to worse for the cash-strapped side who are expected to sack Koeman.
The club has struggled with financial issues with debts reportedly around the £1.15billion mark.
Mundo Deportivo reports the Catalan giants are not looking for temporary cover.
And Football Italia claims the 26-time LaLiga champs hope to find a permanent long-term coach to steer them back to their trophy-winning glory days.
However, star midfielder Frenkie De Jong, said sacking manager Ronald Koeman would change nothing.
Barca have just three wins from eight matches in all competitions this season, sitting both well adrift in LaLiga and rock bottom of their Champions League group as a result.
On Wednesday night Barca plummeted to new lows after being humiliated in a 3-0 defeat to Portuguese outfit Benfica, in a match in which they were toothless in front of goal and hapless in defence, with summer signing Eric Garcia getting sent off.
Speaking to reporters following the full-time whistle in Portugal, a dejected De Jong said: ‘I can’t talk about Koeman, it’s not for me to say.
‘I don’t think changing the coach can solve anything.
‘We are trying everything, working hard in training, we are trying our best on the field but today was not our day, that is clear.’