Koeman rules himself out of Barcelona job

Netherlands are preparing for their UEFA Nations League matches that await them next weekend, as part of the first final four tournament of the competition. But for many journalists there were more important stories, such as reports that Ronald Koeman, the coach of the Dutch national team, could be going to Barcelona and takeover the reigns of Ernesto Valverde.

“I conformed myself to the KNVB. If you’ve done only one year and there’s one year left to the European Championships, it’s not the right moment. As far as I’m concerned, we can just put this speculation behind us. No matter what I say, there will always be people who say ‘if they [Barcelona] offer him a job, he will go anyway. The media will run those stories and I understand that. I know how I agreed this with the KNVB and for me, that’s enough.”

Koeman won Champions League with Barcelona back in his playing days, but his coaching job at the Nou Camp will have to wait, at least for now.