Koeman: "We need to close the chapter of Messi"
Barça's head coach also said that "other players need to contribute more"
Just two days before the start of his second full season as FC Barcelona head coach, Ronald Koeman has given his thoughts on the state of the club during an interview with ESPN.
The Dutch coach said that it is now time to "close the chapter of Messi" and has asked other players in the squad to step up in the Argentine's absence. He stressed that "the aim is always to win trophies", as "clubs like Barça can't go whole seasons without winning anything".
Regarding Messi's departure, he said "We must understand that players can't continue playing for the same club forever. We must now close this chapter, because we need to focus on the season ahead". He added "We have brought in some new players and we must keep progressing. And we have time for that. We are working to build the future of this club, and it's important that we focus on this and not what has happened over recent days".
Staying on the same subject, Koeman said "[Messi not signing a new contract] was difficult, because we're not talking about any player, we're talking about Leo Messi: the best player in the world for many years. We are all disappointed that he won't be playing for Barça this season. However, you need to adapt quickly, because you can't be feeling sorry for yourself at the start of the season. They were a very tough few dats. Messi meant a lot for this club".
COLLECTIVE RESPONSE TO MESSI'S ABSENCE
Without Leo's magic, the team will need to respond as a collective. "Of course it will be harder for us to score goals. Messi scored 30 last season. Other players will therefore need to contribute more and make a step up. Now we need to focus more on the team and less on individual players. Luckily, we have players like Ansu Fati and Coutinho coming back, and we still have a very strong side. We'll work even harder to achieve what our fans expect of us", Koeman said.
"THE AIM IS TO WIN TROPHIES"
Koeman also spoke of his desire to win a trophy this season. "The objective is always to win trophies, to be champions, to go far in the Champions League. Clubs like Barça can't go whole seasons without winning anything. We know it, and people who know about football will know that it will be harder for us this season. We need to try and make a step forward", he said.
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