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Barcelona manager Ronald Koeman has been a constant on the front page of several major football newspapers over the last few days - albeit for the wrong reasons. A 3-0 defeat to Bayern Munich in the UEFA Champions League brought his team into focus. That was followed by another disappointing 1-1 draw with Granada on Monday, which further magnified Barcelona's struggles.
The Catalan giants have claimed just two wins from five games across all competitions so far this season. They currently rank seventh in the La Liga table - five points behind bitter rivals Real Madrid, who sit at the summit with 13 points. From many indications, it wouldn't be far-fetched to conclude that Koeman has failed to get his team going in the right direction.
To prevent things from breaking down beyond repair, it would make more sense to relieve the Dutchman from his duties. On that note, we look at five strong reasons why Barcelona shouldn't hesitate to sack the manager as soon as possible.
#5 Ronald Koeman was never the right man for Barcelona stylistically
The appointment of Ronald Koeman was one of the misdeeds of the Josep Maria Bartomeu administration. The fact that Joan Laporta tried to replace the tactician after winning the presidential election earlier this year shows he isn't convinced by the Dutchman's presence.
A typical Barcelona manager is expected to be tactically brilliant, employ an attractive and offensive approach to the game and demonstrate a strong winning mentality.
Koeman has failed to deliver on those fronts. He has adopted a more defensive approach at the Camp Nou, with his team playing without an identity and no strong desire to win. He is simply not a good fit for the Catalan giants.
#4 Poor player treatment
The way Ronald Koeman treats his players is a serious cause for concern. The tactician has spent slightly over a year at the Camp Nou, yet he already has a rich history of not treating his players with sufficient respect.
For instance, no one knows exactly why Riqui Puig - by far one of the brightest youngsters in the team - has barely been given any chance to impress. Miralem Pjanic and Luis Suarez both complained of Koeman's ill-treatment after leaving the club. No wonder the Dutchman continues to fail to get the best out of his players.
#3 Rocky relationship with Joan Laporta
Ronald Koeman's relationship with Barcelona president Joan Laporta leaves a lot to be desired. The pair have fired a couple of shots at each other in the press over the last few weeks, which clearly indicates all isn't well between them.
It all began when Laporta considered appointing a new manager this summer. Koeman wasn't happy with that and what followed was a war of words between the two men.
"My relationship with Laporta has improved but something happened last week that I think is not right," Koeman revealed recently.
"He was suggesting that the coach does not have all the power. He spoke too much and was not wise on two occasions. That can be done in private."
That tug of war certainly isn't good for Barcelona's image. It would be a wise decision for the president to do the needful by relieving the manager from his job before things get blown out of proportion.
#2 Better alternatives available for Barcelona
Should Barcelona decide to part ways with Ronaldo Koeman this summer, they certainly won't be short of options to replace the Dutchman. In fact, there are a couple of better alternatives who fit the club's philosophy more and would be willing to take up the job.
The best option is probably Ajax manager Erik Ten Hag. The tactician has been doing a great job at the Johan Cruyff Arena over the last couple of years. His team shocked everyone with some spectacular performances in the UEFA Champions League in the 2018-2019 season, beating Juventus and Real Madrid in the process.
Former Barcelona midfielder Xavi Hernandez is a decent option as well. The Spaniard has impressed as Al-Sadd manager, leading the Qatari club to two trophies last season. Both tacticians fit the Blaugrana's philosophy and will certainly fancy the privilege of coaching the club after the departure of Ronald Koeman.
#1 No need to delay the inevitable
It was obvious from the start that Ronald Koeman isn't a good fit for Barcelona. With the tactician delivering poor results in recent games and falling out with some players and the president, it is easy to realize he doesn't have a future at the club.
The Catalan giants are in a serious mess at the moment. It would make more sense to part ways with the manager as soon as possible and focus on rebuilding the team before it gets too late.
Barca have a number of highly talented youngsters amongst their ranks at the moment. They also have a couple of veterans who can still play at the top of the game for the next one or two years. What they lack is a coach who can bring the best out of the team. Koeman clearly isn't the right man for the job, but will they decide to make a change in the dugout so early in the season? Only time will tell.
