5 Barcelona stars who have improved under Ronald Koeman

Barcelona manager - Ronald Koeman
Barcelona manager - Ronald Koeman

#3 Ronald Araujo

The Uruguayan has become a solid presence in Barcelona's attack
The Uruguayan has become a solid presence in Barcelona's attack

Ronald Araujo is one of few players Ronald Koeman experimented with last season and it ended on a positive note. The Uruguayan was given the opportunity to show what he could offer and with time and guidance from the tactician, he quickly established himself at the heart of the defense.

Araujo has rapidly transformed from being a promising young talent to become a vital figure in the backline. He was arguably the most reliable center-back in the squad last season, making 33 appearances before an injury crisis limited his impact.

The 22-year-old has returned with more momentum this season. Such has been his impressive level of performance that Ronald Koeman has utilized him in all of Barcelona's nine games so far. The defender has already opened his account for the campaign with a fine goal against Granada during a recent La Liga clash.


#2 Frenkie de Jong

Thanks to Ronald Koeman, Frenkie de Jong has improved his offensive output at Barcelona
Thanks to Ronald Koeman, Frenkie de Jong has improved his offensive output at Barcelona

Ronald Koeman's influence on Frenkie de Jong was quite evident last season. The tactician required the midfielder to offer more offensively, deploying him in a more advanced role. After just a few weeks, the tweak started yielding results.

Frenkie de Jong ended up contributing seven goals and eight assists for Barcelona in 51 appearances across all competitions during the term. It was a massive improvement from the two goals and four assists he bagged for the Catalan giants in the previous campaign.

The midfielder continues to be a shining light under Ronald Koeman at Barcelona. He already has two assists to his name in eight games across all competitions this season.


#1 Pedri

Pedri was given a lot of opportunities by Ronald Koeman last season
Pedri was given a lot of opportunities by Ronald Koeman last season

The Spaniard was handed his Barcelona debut on September 27 last year as Ronald Koeman summoned him to replace Philippe Coutinho in a La Liga clash with Villareal. Pedri put up a promising performance that earned him the interest of the manager.

He became a constant in the Blaugrana's midfield, with Koeman giving him plenty of opportunities to impress. The midfielder ended the campaign with a massive 52 appearances across all competitions, contributing four goals and six assists.

Thanks to a remarkable debut season, Pedri got the chance to represent Spain at both the European Championships and the Olympics in Tokyo this summer. The 18-year-old impressed in both competitions and is among the favorites to claim the Golden Boy award this year.

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