BARCELONA – Ronald Koeman enjoyed, for the first time in weeks, a press conference free of questions regarding his future on the Barcelona bench.
The excellent image of the team against Levante and the significance of Wednesday’s duel in Lisbon centered an appearance in which the Dutch coach rejected that a defeat against Benfica could be decisive in the fate of the group in the Champions League, “it is impossible because it is the second “proclaimed, and warning that the system” is not always the most important thing, “he ruled that beyond the approach of the match, Barça will win because” we always go out to win. “
Despite the fact that a defeat would leave Barça without scoring after two rounds and practically forcing them to play without a net for the rest of the league, the Barça coach ruled that a second day of the group stage can “never” be understood as definitive. “It is impossible because it is the second game out of six and it cannot be decisive,” he cut, taking for granted that the result of the clash in Lisbon, being important for both teams, will not mark the luck of the classification.
“I don’t know if Benfica is the fittest team but it is a strong team and I have the experience of knowing how big it is … We need a good result and with two different styles I think we can expect an interesting match”, Koeman agreed, referring to his confidence in seeing an image similar to that of last Sunday: “We were very good, with and without the ball, we squeezed the opponent and we did not let him play … We always try but sometimes it works out better for you and, also It depends on the opposite and on our attitude. “
“We always have the intention. Barça always play to win the game and our intention is to control, have the ball and look for spaces with the players we have,” he said, noting that the games are always different. “The other day we almost played. without right winger. We lack band players, so we have to fill the middle of the field, “he warned, stating that the system” is not the most important thing. With any system you can press the opposite and the important thing is what we want and where we can press the opposite. “.
Benfica “we know that it is dangerous in the counterattacks and that is why it is important to have the ball and if we lose it, to be well organized in defense. We must try to cancel it”, agreed Koeman, insisting that he expects a game “complicated because I know the environment what is in his field and the strength he has. It is not a team that opens the field a lot and leaves a lot of spaces because the Portuguese mentality is to control the game and surprise the rival with their quality at the top “.
“It is good to have respect for the contrary, but when the referee whistles you have to lose that respect. They play at home and having the environment in their favor they will try to attack to win. It is not a team that plays not to lose,” said the coach Barça … Sentenced immediately that “we always have the same intention to win, be it at home or away, take control of the game to win.”
Only one question had to be answered about his difficult relationship with Laporta, who was at the Ciudad Deportiva but, Koeman assured, not to meet him. “I have not seen the president this morning. We have been talking in the dressing room of the game and how to prepare it, nothing more … And surely we will see each other this afternoon,” he said.
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