Published: September 24, 2021 6:27 pm
Last Updated: September 24, 2021 6:35 pm
An altogether surprising name has today come to the fore in the French media, as a potential replacement for Ronald Koeman at Barcelona.
Concerns in Catalunya
The subject of Dutchman Koeman’s future at the Camp Nou has of course come under the microscope in a major way of late.
This comes with Barca having endured an altogether underwhelming opening to the new campaign, en route to just two wins across the club’s first five outings.
The Blaugrana’s latest dropped points were forthcoming on Thursday night, when the most recent in a string of increasingly disappointing performances saw them forced to settle for a share of the spoils at Cadiz.
Barcelona’s Spanish defender Gerard Pique (3L) remonstrate with the referee after presenting a red card to Barcelona’s Dutch midfielder Frenkie De Jong (2R) during the Spanish League football match between Cadiz CF and FC Barcelona at the Ramon de Carranza stadium in Cadiz on September 23, 2021. (Photo by CRISTINA QUICLER / AFP) (Photo by CRISTINA QUICLER/AFP via Getty Images)
In the defence of Ronald Koeman, the former Everton boss has already been forced to deal with a whole host of personnel issues thus far in 2021/22, whilst bouncing back from the loss of Lionel Messi was always likely to pose a considerable challenge.
However, this does not take away from the fact that the Dutchman has, all told, looked completely and utterly out of his depth.
Baffling decision after baffling decision have seen the Blaugrana faithful make clear their desire for change on the club’s bench, with Koeman’s tactical ineptitude having been on full display upon the 58-year-old opting to utilise key defender Gerard Pique as a centre-forward during a recent meeting with Granada.
Win lose or draw, there’s no way Koeman survives this right? There’s no way Barca fans won’t be rioting after seeing a Pique Luuk De Jong strike partnership
— Burner (@sthsthburner) September 20, 2021
Garcia eyed
In turn, word beginning to do the rounds in the media that the board at the Camp Nou are indeed in the process of sounding out potential replacements for their under-fire manager should come as little surprise.
What will likely raise an eyebrow or two, though, is the latest tactician tipped to replace Koeman on the bench in Catalunya.
As per a report from French outlet RMC Sport, during a recent meeting of those in a position of power at Barca, the name of Oscar Garcia was brought to the fore.
Garcia, a relative unknown to most, is the current manager of Ligue 1 outfit Stade de Reims. The rouges et blancs, meanwhile, have too endured something of a hit-and-miss opening to the new season, sitting 15th in the French top-flight with seven points from seven outings.
🔵🔴 Alors que Ronald Koeman est plus que jamais menacé, le nom d’Oscar Garcia (Reims) serait sorti lors d’une réunion de la direction du FC Barcelone pour évoquer une possible successionhttps://t.co/JY46LkN2R9
— RMC Sport (@RMCsport) September 24, 2021
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