New Barcelona coach Ronald Koeman has revealed he’s talking to Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola about how best to manage Lionel Messi.
Koeman has taken the Barca job amid talk of Messi seeking a move away – with City among teams interested.
But the Dutchman revealed: “I am very close with Pep Guardiola and I am still in contact with him now.
“Pep told me that Messi wants to win, he wants to win everything. And if he doesn’t win, he can get very annoyed. I am looking so much forward to work with him.
“I have to make sure that Messi will be able to function well in this team, and that he feels important. He is the captain of this club!
“He has to finish his career here. Messi is Barcelona and Barcelona is Messi.”
Reflecting on their Champions League humiliation by Bayern Munich, Koeman added: “Messi still has another year of his contract left.
“Of course he is disappointed, I would be too if I lost 8-2. If he wouldn’t be in this emotional state, then it would be worrying.”
Be the first to comment