The win in Seville this weekend would be the 31st time Barca have won the competition, while Athletic are aiming for their 24th win
Ronald Koemans Barcelona are in the Copa del Rey final after losing their Clasico. AP
Ronald Koeman said he found it « strange » that his future as a Barcelona coach was linked to the result of the Copa del Rey final against Athletic Bilbao. Koeman only took command last year, but despite an encouraging first season, his position is uncertain after the arrival of new club president Joan Laporta.
« It’s a bit strange that I have to answer questions like this because we have 19 games without We’re losing a game and I have to talk about my future? « Koeman said. » Maybe I have to accept it. I have another year on my contract. I know it’s a lot of pressure and I can handle it but sometimes it’s a bit strange. «
When asked if he’d like a public demonstration of Laporta’s support, Koeman said, » I don’t need that every time the press says something. He’s got me Confidence shown. I know where I am. Despite the financial problems, you have to win at Barca. «
Barcelona lost to Athletic Bilbao in the final of the Spanish Super Cup in January, but have them at home and in the LaLiga beaten to the side. The win in Seville this weekend would be the 31st time Barca have won the competition, while Athletic are aiming for their 24th win two weeks after losing the final to Real Sociedad, which was postponed last year. « It would be important for the club to win a big trophy, especially given the club’s situation, » said Koeman, who said Gerard Pique was ready to play after a knee injury.
Barcelona are still competing in LaLiga . Two points separate them and leaders Atletico Madrid. Eight games are still pending. « It’s a final that is completely independent of the league, » said Barca goalkeeper Marc-Andre ter Stegen. « But you feel good when you win and bad when you lose. Our goal is to win tomorrow and get a boost for everything else we have to face. »
For Athletic one would Losing means making undesirable history as the team that lost twice in two weeks in the final of the same cup was all the more devastating when they faced Basque rivals Real Sociedad.
It will be a competition between the two most successful clubs the Copa del Rey at the empty Estadio La Cartuja in Seville, Barcelona, which has won the competition 30 times, and Athletic 23 with 81 finals.
When Barca were beaten by Valencia in 2019, it was the first time in five Years that they missed the trophy. Their dominance created a sense of ambivalence about the tournament, especially when battling more dramatic failures in Europe.
Ernesto Valverde’s domestic double as coach in 2018 became so amid the whirlwind of the Champions League collapse against Roma well forgotten, while the implosion against Liverpool a year later meant that Barca were already devastated before Valencia knocked out a knockout blow.
But Barcelona are not the team they were and the Copa wins in a season of recovery under Koeman was far more important. The Dutch coach said in January that « Barcelona are not ready to win a lot of things at the moment » but he will be a victim of his own progress if the team gets tight in both the league and the cup and doesn’t have any of them .
There is also growing concern about Barca’s inability to deliver on the big occasion this season, with encouraging performances against Spain’s less light that stand in stark contrast to games against tougher opponents when Koeman’s youths looked exposed .
They lost all three games against Real Madrid and Atletico Madrid, were overwhelmed in the Paris Saint-Germain Champions League for the last 16 years and were overrun by Athletic Bilbao in the final of the Spanish Super Cup.
Failure in the biggest games will likely count against Koeman when the club’s new president, Laporta, debates whether to continue with him this summer when Lionel Messi will also decide about his future. Winning a seventh Copa del Rey is unlikely to be decisive for Messi, but a trophy could reinforce the feeling that he is happy again and that the club is on the right track.
A loss would be a reminder of that serve recent disappointments. Messi was sent off when Athletic won the Spanish Super Cup in January, an exciting competition in which Inaki Williams’ Blitz took a 3-2 win after extra time. Williams said it was « the best goal of my career » and his team will draw hope from this game if they deserved to beat Barcelona three days after beating Real Madrid. Athletic’s Asier Villalibre celebrated trumpet while his teammates danced around him in the middle of the pitch, while Marcelino Garcia Toral picked up a trophy in just his third game since his appointment as coach.
Their momentum has slowed since then, thanks to four Draws in a row in LaLiga, which made a late push for Europe unlikely, possibly also due to their staggering focus as the two cup finals came in sight.
The first against Real Sociedad was always their best hope, for the first time winning the Copa del Rey since 1984. Today they have a second chance in the same city and stadium where they lost two weeks ago.
Changed date:
April 17, 2021 9:50:13 AM
KEYWORDS:
Real Madrid now have the better duel against both rivals, while Barcelona and Atletico have to face each other at the Camp Nou beforehand.
After falling 10 points behind at the end of January, Atletico Madrid have cut Real Madrid and Barcelona lead. A Clasico win would further help their title ambitions.
The win makes it for them six times in a row in LaLiga, another win – especially after an unconvincing performance – reinforces the feeling that the momentum is now with Atletico’s rivals.
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Ref: https://www.firstpost.com
