Koeman Slams Laporta Over His Barcelona Departure

Koeman Slams Laporta Over His Barcelona Departure. Ronald Koeman has chastised Barcelona president Joan Laporta for his bad publicity strategy.

Since leaving the Catalans last season, the Dutchman has regularly slammed Laporta. While Koeman was still in charge, Barcelona’s president began seeking a new coach.

He ultimately convinced Xavi Hernandez to take over as head coach at Camp Nou. However, Koeman believes Laporta should be held accountable for the club’s dismal finish to his tenure.

“Leaving was a bit of a liberation,” he told TV3. “It was a difficult time for the club, first without a president, then with Laporta’s doubts about the manager.

“You want to be a coach but you know that if you don’t win, you have problems.

“As president, you can always have doubts. But if you say them to the public, everyone starts to doubt. It was a big mistake on his part.”

He added: “In general, the dressing room was not against the coach. 

“We worked well. The problem was when the president came. A president or technical director can doubt the coach, but the problem is that it came out in the press. 

“As president, you cannot leave doubts about the coach. I would never do that. I show my face and go straight ahead.”

Koeman has agreed to take over as manager of the Netherlands after the World Cup. The former Barcelona manager will succeed Louis van Gaal, who is battling sickness.