Barcelona coach Ronald Koeman on his relationship with Joan Laporta
Koeman and Laporta have exchanged words over the last week but the Dutchman cooled things down
Barcelona coach Ronald Koeman and president Joan Laporta have endured a rocky relationship over the last six months.
Laporta told Koeman in the summer he needed some time to reflect before deciding to eventually keep him on as the club's coach.
Since then, various stories have emerged, with Laporta appearing to suggest recently Koeman didn't have full control of football matters.
Things came to a head over the weekend when Koeman told Dutch media there had been issues with the president, but he played down the idea of a rift in a press conference on Monday.
"Our relationship is good," Koeman said ahead of the Champions League opener against Bayern at Camp Nou on Tuesday.
"If there's anything, we speak. We both want the best for the club. The club is the most important thing. There are things we speak about, but I do not have a single problem with the president. He comes here often, we speak about things to do with the club, no complaints. We've had some issues, we've spoken and agreed in all senses."
Koeman also drew criticism for saying "thanks to me the club has a future" but he contextualised those comments, too.
"The only thing I have said, the reality, is that I am a coach that gives chances to young players," he added.
"I said it in that sense. You never know if another coach will give as many chances to these players, who are the future, that's what I said, not 'thanks to me,' no.
"We know it's a tough situation but we're improving things and I am a coach that gives chances to young players because they're the future of the club."
On his contract renewal, he said: "It's not true there are certain conditions to renew (play a certain way, players etc). We are not speaking about it at the moment, anyway.
"Being Barça coach is about winning games. We're in a moment where we are changing things in the team, we accept it and work hard. My future is not important, the future of club and team is important and we have a chance on Tuesday vs. very good team to compete and that is more important than my future."
