Larsson facing uncertain future
HENRIK Larsson’s future at Barcelona remains unclear after the Catalan giants sacked manager Ronald Koeman yesterday following Wednesday’s defeat at Rayo Vallecano.
Barcelona B boss Sergi Barjuan has been named interim head coach of the first team at the Nou Camp but, according to multiple reports, former midfielder Xavi is set to replace the Dutchman on a permanent basis.
Celtic legend Larsson played alongside Xavi when he left Parkhead for Camp Nou in 2004 and was integral to their side’s victory over Arsenal in the 2006 Champions League final, providing two assists after coming on as a second-half substitute. But while the club are said to be working on securing a deal for current Al-Sadd boss Xavi, they have promoted Barjuan to first-team duties on a temporary basis.
A club statement read: “FC Barcelona hereby announces that Sergi Barjuan, the current coach of Barca B, shall be taking provisional charge of the technical management of the senior squad.
“His interim position as firstteam head coach shall end as soon as the club has hired a fulltime head coach to replace the dismissed Ronald Koeman.
“FC Barcelona president Joan Laporta shall be officially introducing Sergi Barjuan to the first-team squad this afternoon before the training session at the Ciutat Esportiva.”
Koeman was already under pressure after his side lost to Real Madrid at the weekend and the midweek loss proved the final straw. Barca currently sit six points off LaLiga leaders Real in ninth place after 10 games.
Koeman enjoyed a huge amount of success as a player at the Nou Camp, winning four LaLiga titles and the European Cup during a trophy-laden spell at the beginning of the 1990s.