IT’S set to be a summer of upheaval at Barcelona, in the wake of their dreadful 8-2 mauling at the hands of Bayern Munich on Friday night.
Quique Setien has packed his bags, and former Everton and Southampton boss Ronald Koeman is set to become the club’s third manager of 2020.
The Dutchman, a legendary player at Barcelona, will have quite a job on his hands to turn things around at Camp Nou – with the club on the brink of a crisis.
Chief among his aims will be convincing Lionel Messi that he can win the Champions League by staying at Barca, amid talk that the Argentine wants to leave the club and their boardroom mess behind.
Koeman, 57, will also be eager to bring in some fresh talent – so let’s see how he could potentially line his new side up next season.
FOLLOWING TRADITION
As a player Koeman featured under the legendary Johan Cruyff at both Ajax and Barcelona, making him perfectly positioned to understand the philosophy of his compatriot.
This means that he will seek to restore the club’s ideals built by Cruyff, starting with the club’s 4-3-3 formation.
Setien tried a most un-Barcelona-like 4-4-2 diamond against Bayern, with disastrous consequences.
Koeman will get Barcelona back on the path to playing in his former mentor’s image – as they did in relatively recent years under Pep Guardiola and Luis Enrique with great success.
Marc-Andre ter Stegen remains the perfect goalkeeper for playing out of the back, but will hope for greater organisation in front of him as he seeks to start moves and help his side negate opposition pressing.
Nelson Semedo and Jordi Alba should continue as roving full backs for Koeman.
A FAMILIAR PATH
And while Gerard Pique offered to leave in the wake of the Bayern humbling, his experience of coming through at La Masia and winning countless trophies with successful Barcelona sides would be invaluable.
Alongside him could be a man that has taken a similar path to that of Pique in his young career.
Eric Garcia, 19, left La Masia in 2017 for Manchester, as Pique did, bursting into the Manchester City team towards the end of this season.
While his game time prospects appear brighter than Pique’s did at Manchester United all those years ago, Garcia is refusing to put pen to paper on a new deal, and Barca have already tested the water with a £14million bid to bring him back to Camp Nou.
Miralem Pjanic has already been recruited from Juventus, and could gradually take control of the slot at the base of Barca’s midfield from the ageing Sergio Busquets.
THE DUTCH CONNECTION
To one side of the Bosnian will be last summer’s marquee signing Frenkie de Jong, who under his compatriot could fully reach his potential in red and blue.
And he could even be joined by former Ajax team-mate Donny van de Beek, with the attacking midfielder having been linked with Barcelona this summer.
Koeman will be desperate to talk Messi round, and if he does so could united him with a new attacking duo upfront.
Inter Milan star Lautaro Martinez caught the eye yet again last night with his brace against Shakhtar Donetsk, and Barcelona see him as a key target this summer.
To the left, Everton star Richarlison was surprisingly linked with Barcelona earlier this season, and could be brought in to finally work with ex-Goodison boss Koeman – who was sacked prior to the Brazilian’s arrival under Marco Silva.
The likes of Ansu Fati and Riqui Puig will continue to be developed – although the Barca futures of Ousmane Dembele, Martin Braithwaite and Philippe Coutinho look bleak.
