« We weren’t preparing for the matches », Pjanic still pays Koeman

Leaving FC Barcelona last September, Miralem Pjanic spoke about his experience in Catalonia, where he rubbed shoulders with Ronald Koeman and Xavi. For the Bosnian environment, the Dutch coach offered very poor training, unlike the Spanish technician.

It’s been almost a year since Ronald Koeman was dismissed from his duties at FC Barcelona. On October 28, 2021, the Dutch technician was fired after a defeat against Rayo Vallecano, fourteen months after his return to Catalonia. In any case, his passage did not leave fond memories for Miralem Pjanic, who did not hesitate in a recent interview to tackle his former coach.

Miralem Pjanic had already complained about the lack of consideration towards him in the days of Koeman, who did not count on him. More than a year later, the player added: « I was very surprised when I saw Koeman’s training sessions. They were without intensity, without tactics, without ideas. We weren’t preparing for the matches » , this time tackled the Bosnian midfielder in a statement relayed by Que T’hi Jugues.

« A very good preparation » with Xavi

Loaned to Besiktas last season, Miralem Pjanic returned to FC Barcelona this summer, where he was able to prepare for the current exercise. If he joined the Sharjah club in the United Arab Emirates in early September, Miralem Pjanic was therefore able to know Xavi for a few weeks, appointed last November.

« I saw good, very good preparation, like at Juventus, where we won everything, compared the former OL player. Now the club is training with a lot of intensity and the coach and his staff were very clear with us: ‘This year we are going to race, we are going to train to the maximum’. Even those who are not playing have very intense training sessions. »

At the time of the first criticisms of Pjanic, Ronald Koeman considered that these were statements related to « frustration ». « There were other players better than him, » concluded the former defender about his choice to dismiss Pjanic. « The most serious thing is that those who weren’t playing had to train very hard after the matches, not those who were playing. But the coach never came to see us to see the attitude of these players, launched Pjanic in September 2021, bitter after being sidelined. I’ve never seen that. How can a player stay motivated or be reminded that he’s there? It’s one of the worst things I’ve ever seen. I’ve seen, and I think that’s a great disrespect. »