Laporta gives Koeman more backing
Barcelona is proud to have Ronald Koeman as head coach and must trust him as they once did Frank Rijkaard, according to club president Joan Laporta.
Ex-Netherlands boss Koeman appeared to be on the brink of being sacked by Barca when widespread reports ahead of the match with Atletico Madrid last weekend suggested it would be his last at the helm.
But Laporta came out to insist Koeman would be staying with the club regardless of the result, which proved to be the case despite the Catalan side suffering a disappointing 2-0 away defeat in LaLiga.
That left it ninth in the table, while it is bottom of UEFA Champions League Group E after defeats to Bayern Munich and Benfica.
Koeman said he was grateful to have been given "clarity" over his future after a meeting with Laporta, with the president citing the backing he had once given Rijkaard, who went on to secure UEFA Champions League glory in 2006.
Laporta explained he recognises the difficulties Koeman has had after the departure of talisman Lionel Messi, financial chaos at the club and a long injury list.
"The decision is that Koeman continues," he told local radio station RAC1.
"Everyone, including him, is discouraged at the moment - things have happened that we did not want.
"But he wants Barca to do well. He has a valid contract and he has to be respected. I am happy with the decision."
Laporta continued: "As president I have evaluated everything, I have listened to people I trust and I have come to the conclusion that I must trust and support him as I did with Rijkaard.
"He is a cule like us, he loves Barça and he is a legend of this club.
"Indeed, has decided to come to us during a moment of sporting and institutional crisis.
"I wanted to know if he trusted the team and he responded positively and forcefully. He said he needed time to recover the injured players and I saw a person determined to continue."
A host of other coaches have been connected with the Barca job, with Koeman's contract due to expire in 2022. Club great Xavi is persistently linked to the role.
Laporta added: "People can think what they want.
"With Xavi I speak frequently because we are friends. Also with Pep [Guardiola]. I like to know what they think because they know more than me.
"But the coach we have is Koeman. We are proud to have him as a coach."
