The 1-0 loss to Rayo Vallecano was the straw that broke the camel’s back as Barcelona has sacked manager Ronald Koeman.
The news comes only hours after the club’s latest defeat and amid initial reports the Catalan side was going to wait until the following day to make a decision on the Dutchman’s future.
Plans changed and a meeting was held following the arrival of the team back in Barcelona.
Al final del partido era “no decisión en caliente”. Después de aterrizar en Barcelona… van dirección a la Ciudad Deportiva… Horas importantes en el Barça.
— Helena Condis Edo (@HelenaCondis) October 27, 2021
The club released a statement confirming his sacking and revealing Koeman will have the opportunity to say goodbye to the squad on Thursday.
El FC Barcelona ha destituït aquesta nit Ronald Koeman com a tècnic del primer equip
— FC Barcelona (@FCBarcelona_cat) October 27, 2021
For the good of the club, Barcelona needed to fire Koeman
Koeman’s dismissal was only a matter of time. He was on the verge of being fired prior to the last international break but some of president Joan Laporta’s inner circle convinced him it was better to stay the course.
The relationship between Koeman and Laporta was never the best but seemed to get better once the manager’s continuation was confirmed. But the results never got better after that.
They beat Valencia 3-1 at home but then struggled mightily to scrape by Dynamo Kyiv in the Champions League. This was followed by a home loss in El Clasico and now this latest defeat at Rayo Vallecano.
The situation became untenable with the same mistakes being made time and time again and the side playing with no real identity or cohesion.
Injuries did Koeman no favors, but his constant changes in system, inconsistent tactical set-up and man management left much to be desired.
Xavi Hernandez and Marcelo Gallardo have been linked with the job. Barça B’s Sergi Barjuan has also been rumored but only on an interim basis.
The board are working with three options: Xavi Hernández, Marcelo Gallardo and Sergi Barjuan (interim). [rac1]
— barcacentre (@barcacentre) October 27, 2021
Koeman was hired by previous president Josep Maria Bartomeu and given a two-year contract. Barcelona is going to have to pay the remainder of his deal but it will be a small price to pay if the team manage to turn it around and qualify out of the group stage of the Champions League as well as finish in the top four in La Liga.