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Barcelona appointed Ronald Koeman as their manager after parting ways with former head coach Quique Setien last year. The Dutchman took charge of the team during the 2020-21 campaign and had a fairly successful outing, winning the Copa del Rey trophy in his debut season.
This term, though, things have turned upside down for the tactician. Barcelona are currently performing at a poor level. Many are calling for Koeman's sacking due to unfavorable results in recent games as well as accusations of drifting away from the club's core values in terms of playing style.
Nevertheless, that takes nothing away from the positive influence the Dutchman has had at the club so far. The one thing that stands out is the development of certain members of the squad.
Apart from integrating youngsters into the team, Koeman's spell has also seen a handful of players improve at the Camp Nou. Below, we highlight five such players.
#5 Sergino Dest
Sergino Dest joined Barcelona from Dutch outfit Ajax in a deal worth €21 million ahead of the 2020-21 campaign. The defender had a promising start to life in the Catalan capital, playing 44 games and recording three goals and one assist to his name across all competitions.
After playing his first few games for Barcelona last season, it was evident the 20-year-old still had some work to do, especially in defending. Working with Ronald Koeman, he improved gradually as the campaign progressed and finished among the top performers in the team.
This season, though, Dest has taken his game a step further. The USMNT star has played eight games for the Blaugrana, putting up spectacular displays on either side of the defense. So far, he's recorded 14 tackles, nine blocks and six clearances, as per Whoscored. He's also recorded one assist to his name.
#4 Oscar Mingueza
Ronald Koeman promoted the Spaniard to the senior team last season and integrated him into the backline. Oscar Mingueza made 41 appearances in Barcelona's jersey during the campaign, contributing two goals and three assists in all competitions.
The defender has displayed tremendous improvements in recent games, playing with more confidence, calmness and composure. He's alternated between the center and right wing of the backline this season, putting up a couple of decent displays in seven appearances.
#3 Ronald Araujo
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
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
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.
