‘I wouldn’t even recommend Koeman as the kit man!’: Barcelona’s boss is SLAMMED by Joaquin, who played under him in his dire six months at Valencia, and says he won’t greet him when Barca play Real Betis this week
- Ronald Koeman was manager of Valencia for an ill-fated six-month spell in 07-08
- Betis legend Joaquin played under him but did not enjoy the experience at all
- Ahead of meeting this weekend in Barcelona-Betis, Joaquin slammed Koeman
- He said he wouldn’t even hire him as a kit man and won’t greet him at Nou Camp
Real Betis’ legendary forward Joaquin has poured scorn on Barcelona boss Ronald Koeman and insists he would not even hire him as a kit man after playing under him in an ill-fated six months at Valencia.
Joaquin, now 39 and still going strong at Betis, was at the peak of his powers at Los Che between 2006 and 2011, but didn’t enjoy the six months Koeman spent in charge of the team.
Despite them winning the Copa del Rey, Koeman was cut-throat in his decimation of the squad, selling lots of players in a bid to fix the financial problems behind the scenes.
Real Betis veteran Joaquin (right) played under Ronald Koeman for six months at Valencia
The pair (pictured at press conference in 2007) did not get on and Joaquin doesn’t like Koeman
That didn’t go down well with the players and as Joaquin readies himself to come up against his old manager for Real Betis against Barcelona this week, he admits he will not be greeting Koeman on the night.
‘It was not the most beautiful experience of my sports career,’ Joaquin said on El Larguero about working under Koeman. ‘It was not a pleasant experience, but as I always say: one has to live with everything and that happened at that time.
‘I do not want to talk about this issue because honestly it hurts me what It happened there, I had a bad time.
When asked by a presenter whether he would appoint him as Betis coach if he were the club’s president, Joaquin replied: ‘Kiko, not even as kit man!’
Joaquin joked that he wouldn’t even hire Koeman as his kit man if he were Real Betis president
Koeman has struggled at Barcelona and the team are languishing in 12th after a draw at Alaves
Barcelona currently sit 12th in LaLiga table
He then continued: ‘I turned the page, we told each other everything. Fortunately, it did not last long and we were able to save the year by ending as worthily as possible because the year was complicated.’
‘[This weekend], he is not going to greet me and I am not going to greet him.’
Barcelona are currently languishing in 12th position in LaLiga, albeit with two games in hand of the majority of their rivals.
Two victories in their games in hand would still only put them fourth at the highest, though, and two defeats in their opening six games has piled the pressure on Koeman already.
Betis, meanwhile, have won four and lost four in a topsy-turvy start to the season under Manuel Pellegrini, but will be hoping to provide an upset against Barca this weekend.
Koeman speaks to the press at his Valencia unveiling, but a tough six months was to follow
Ansu Fati looks dejected during Barca’s disastrous 1-1 draw away at Alaves on Saturday night
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