The keys to the physcial change in Barcelona forward Ousmane Dembele

Ronald Koeman is a man of convictions and fixed ideas. He's not changed at all since the start of the season despite the fact things haven't always gone well, above all in La Liga, where Barça have already lost three games. 

And after three wins in a row in all competitions, with no goals conceded in that time, Koeman has not changed his discourse.  

On Friday, he had to deal with a number of complicated issues, above all comments by made by acting president Carles Tusquets about Lionel Messi this week. 

"My job is to make the team win and play well, everything else I cannot control," Koeman said, also saying that Tusquets' suggestion Messi should have been released in the summer was not helpful. 

The Dutch coach was also asked about Ousmane Dembele, who appears to finally be finding his feet at Barça in his fourth season at the club. 

"The first thing that's changed is he's improved physically," Koeman said. "For any player to perform, they need to be in their best shape.

"Little by little, he's gaining more confidence. You notice he's happy recently. We keep going, working on things, but I am vert happy with his form."  

Koeman has assured from Day One that the French winger has a specific fitness plan to follow to help him re-find his form and avoid the injuries that have blighted his time at Camp Nou. 

Without doubt, it's one of Koeman's biggest tasks at the club, but the signs are encouraging. 

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