Koeman expects to be at Barca next season
Ronald Koeman expects to remain in charge at Barcelona for next season as his team launches a final assault on the LaLiga crown.
The Dutchman was brought in on a two-year contract last August to replace Quique Setien, amid high speculation that presidential elections could mean his reign would last only one season.
There has been huge upheaval at Barcelona since, with rising debt, the resignation of a president, a delayed election that was won by Joan Laporta, and recent talk of a breakaway Super League proving unwelcome distractions.
Amid the off-field turbulence, Koeman has stayed admirably calm, and his team could finish the season with a league and cup double, having already won the Copa del Rey.
Barcelona came into this weekend trailing leader Atletico Madrid by five points, but with a game in hand. Real Madrid, which is perched between Atletico and Barcelona, could only manage a goalless draw on Sunday (AEST) against Real Betis, opening the door further for Barca ahead of it's match with Villarreal on Monday (AEST). Fourth-placed Sevilla, which is seen as the outsider of the battling quartet, also plays on Monday (AEST), against Granada, as does Atletico when it travels to Athletic Club.
Barcelona is handily placed, in form and with a home game against Atletico to come, and if Koeman can deliver a title win he would seem immune from the sack.
He feels Laporta has his back, saying: "The president has shown me his support and trust since the first day, and until he says the opposite, I believe that.
"At the moment, I see myself as a head coach [in Barcelona] for next season. And I also have a contract. If it is not like that, we have to talk."
Barcelona travels to meet a Villarreal side which sits seventh and has a UEFA Europa League semi-final first leg against Arsenal coming up on Friday (AEST).
The future of Lionel Messi has also been a season-long talking point, with the club captain due to reach the end of his contract at the end of the 2020-2021 campaign.
However, Koeman is not interested in talking about anything other than his team's targets, and made that point when asked about the Super League.
"We have already talked a lot about the Super League, now there are more important things than talking about UEFA, sanctions or threats," he said. "We have to be aware of the calendar that we have left."
Remarkably, Barcelona has taken 43 points from a possible 48 in LaLiga since the turn of the year, soaring into the title picture.
It has a terrific record against Villarreal too, winning 17 and drawing six of their past 23 league meetings against the Valencian side.
Messi has scored 15 goals in his 23 games against Villarreal in LaLiga, more than any other LaLiga player has managed against Barcelona's next opponent.
Former Everton and Netherlands boss Koeman said Ousmane Dembele is a contender to start Monday's (AEST) game, and stressed he could not be sure that injured teenage forward Ansu Fati would play again this season.
Dembele was absent through injury for the 5-2 win over Getafe on Friday (AEST), but Koeman said of the French forward: "He is a very important player for us, because he is a different player from the rest playing in attack, a deep player, able to play one-against-one, with dribbles, shooting with both feet.
"He is very important because he gave us many things this season."
Koeman sees Villarreal as a major threat, and suggested the home team will not be distracted by its upcoming assignment in Europe.
"It is a team that plays football very well, with top quality people," Koeman said. "It is proving in Europe to be a strong team.
"It has until Thursday [Friday AEST] to prepare for the next game. It is also fighting for UEFA positions, for [Villarreal]. It is an important game and for us, too. It is an interesting game."
