Barcelona captain Lionel Messi during the recent La Liga defeat to Getafe. AFP
Barcelona captain Lionel Messi during the recent La Liga defeat to Getafe. AFP
Barcelona captain Lionel Messi during the recent La Liga defeat to Getafe. AFP
Barcelona captain Lionel Messi during the recent La Liga defeat to Getafe. AFP

Football

Ronald Koeman: Barcelona not Champions League favourites and Lionel Messi could be better

Dutch coach's first Champions League assignment is at home to Hungarian side Ferencvaros

Steve Luckings
Steve Luckings
Abu Dhabi

October 20, 2020

  • English
  • Arabic

Barcelona boss Ronald Koeman has downplayed his team's chances of winning this season's Champions League while also saying Lionel Messi's performances could be better.

Barca have made a stuttering start to the new season, winning only two of four matches having suffered a shock loss at Getafe at the weekend.

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Speaking before Tuesday's visit of Hungarians Ferencvaros in their Champions League Group G opener, Koeman played down media talk that the Catalans are among the favourites to be crowned European champions.

“When you’re at Barcelona you always want to be there fighting for trophies, be it in La Liga or Europe. We aren’t the favourites, but we can go far,” he said.

Barca’s recent Champions League failings – they have just one semi-final appearance since last winning the competition in 2015 – were cited by many as talisman Lionel Messi’s main reason for attempting to leave Camp Nou in the transfer window.

The Argentina forward has frequently voiced his desire to lift the trophy again and this season could be a final chance to do it with Barca as his current contract expires next year.

“Right now, you could maybe say his performances could be better,” Koeman said of his 33-year-old captain, who has netted only once this season.

“But when you see him on a day-to-day basis, he’s happy and wants to play and be the team’s captain. I don’t have any complaints or doubts about his effort.”

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Getafe v Barcelona ratings

BARCELONA RATINGS: Neto 5 – A mixed performance from the Brazilian, who spilled a cross under pressure from Pique early on but then stood his ground well to save from Nikola Maksimovic. He was powerless to stop Getafe scoring from the spot, but he prevented the home side from doubling their advantage in the second half. Getty
BARCELONA RATINGS: Neto 5 – A mixed performance from the Brazilian, who spilled a cross under pressure from Pique early on but then stood his ground well to save from Nikola Maksimovic. He was powerless to stop Getafe scoring from the spot, but he prevented the home side from doubling their advantage in the second half. Getty
Sergi Roberto 5 – The right-back had a quiet evening, unable to get forward as a result of Getafe’s high press. Found himself exposed when the game stretched late on. EPA
Sergi Roberto 5 – The right-back had a quiet evening, unable to get forward as a result of Getafe’s high press. Found himself exposed when the game stretched late on. EPA
Gerard Pique 7 – Pique was a tower of strength in the air, though he had his hands full all evening in what was at times a feisty affair. AP
Gerard Pique 7 – Pique was a tower of strength in the air, though he had his hands full all evening in what was at times a feisty affair. AP
Clement Lenglet 5 – The Frenchman had his work cut out as Getafe looked to press without the ball and attack on the break with it. He failed to trouble the Getafe goal with a header in the first half and was, at times, sloppy under pressure. EPA
Clement Lenglet 5 – The Frenchman had his work cut out as Getafe looked to press without the ball and attack on the break with it. He failed to trouble the Getafe goal with a header in the first half and was, at times, sloppy under pressure. EPA
Sergino Dest 6 – The US full-back started well. He was strong in the challenge, winning a one-on-one against Nyom, and looked dangerous going forward, setting up Messi with a neat cut back for the visitors’ first chance of the game. Was beaten far too easily late on, though. AP
Sergino Dest 6 – The US full-back started well. He was strong in the challenge, winning a one-on-one against Nyom, and looked dangerous going forward, setting up Messi with a neat cut back for the visitors’ first chance of the game. Was beaten far too easily late on, though. AP
Sergio Busquets 5 – The Spaniard was under immense pressure all evening and so found it hard to get the ball moving. Was often rushed into losing possession, and just couldn’t find a way through Getafe’s back line. AP
Sergio Busquets 5 – The Spaniard was under immense pressure all evening and so found it hard to get the ball moving. Was often rushed into losing possession, and just couldn’t find a way through Getafe’s back line. AP
Frenkie de Jong 4 – The Dutchman grew into the game after a fairly bruising start. Once he asserted himself he tried spraying the ball around in an effort to beat Getafe’s high press, but his passing was often careless. He was also at fault when his sloppy challenge led to the penalty that gifted Getafe the winner. AFP
Frenkie de Jong 4 – The Dutchman grew into the game after a fairly bruising start. Once he asserted himself he tried spraying the ball around in an effort to beat Getafe’s high press, but his passing was often careless. He was also at fault when his sloppy challenge led to the penalty that gifted Getafe the winner. AFP
Antoine Griezmann 4 – The Frenchman finally got to start in the middle and he had one of the best chances of the night when one-on-one, only to blaze high and wide. Another frustrating night. AP
Antoine Griezmann 4 – The Frenchman finally got to start in the middle and he had one of the best chances of the night when one-on-one, only to blaze high and wide. Another frustrating night. AP
Pedri 7 – The youngster looked dangerous running with the ball through the middle and he survived some heavy challenges. He impressed, but lost his way in the second half before being taken off. EPA
Pedri 7 – The youngster looked dangerous running with the ball through the middle and he survived some heavy challenges. He impressed, but lost his way in the second half before being taken off. EPA
Ousmane Dembele 6 – The Frenchman was lively cutting inside off the left, but his first touch sometimes let him down. His direct runs caused Getafe problems but he found their defence resolute, and was substituted on the hour. EPA
Ousmane Dembele 6 – The Frenchman was lively cutting inside off the left, but his first touch sometimes let him down. His direct runs caused Getafe problems but he found their defence resolute, and was substituted on the hour. EPA
Lionel Messi 7 – Starting the game on the right, Messi constantly moved across the front line as he tried to make things happen. He came close for Barca in the first half when he struck the post after Dest’s neat cut back, and then again in injury time when he snatched an effort wide of the post. AFP
Lionel Messi 7 – Starting the game on the right, Messi constantly moved across the front line as he tried to make things happen. He came close for Barca in the first half when he struck the post after Dest’s neat cut back, and then again in injury time when he snatched an effort wide of the post. AFP
SUBS: Philippe Coutinho 5 – A quiet cameo from the Brazilian, who struggled to make an impact after coming on. AFP
SUBS: Philippe Coutinho 5 – A quiet cameo from the Brazilian, who struggled to make an impact after coming on. AFP
Ansu Fati 6 – The youngster made an instant difference when he earned a free-kick at Nyom’s expense deep into the Getafe half. Linked well with Messi when he came on. AFP
Ansu Fati 6 – The youngster made an instant difference when he earned a free-kick at Nyom’s expense deep into the Getafe half. Linked well with Messi when he came on. AFP
Trincao n/a The wide man was poor when he came on, unable to help his side get back into the game. Getty
Trincao n/a The wide man was poor when he came on, unable to help his side get back into the game. Getty
Martin Braithwaite n/a - The forward put enough pressure on Djene late on to force the defender to head the ball onto his own crossbar. Getty
Martin Braithwaite n/a - The forward put enough pressure on Djene late on to force the defender to head the ball onto his own crossbar. Getty
Ricardo Puig n/a - The youngster didn’t get many minutes to show what he could do and, though Barca pushed for an equaliser, he found it difficult to get involved in the closing stages. Getty
Ricardo Puig n/a - The youngster didn’t get many minutes to show what he could do and, though Barca pushed for an equaliser, he found it difficult to get involved in the closing stages. Getty

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The Ferencvaros game comes four days before the first clasico of the season at home to Real Madrid but Koeman said his side are only focusing on the Champions League for now.

“We know it won’t be an easy game. We’ll put out a strong team. Saturday’s game isn’t important right now - the important one is tomorrow’s game. It will be a tough match as there’s no such thing as an easy opponent nowadays," added the Dutchman.

“It’s always important to win the first Champions League group game, especially at home.”

THE SPECS

Engine: 1.6-litre turbo

Transmission: six-speed automatic

Power: 165hp

Torque: 240Nm

Price: From Dh89,000 (Enjoy), Dh99,900 (Innovation)

On sale: Now

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%3Cp%3EThe%20influx%20of%20talented%20young%20Afghan%20players%20to%20UAE%20cricket%20could%20have%20a%20big%20impact%20on%20the%20fortunes%20of%20both%20countries.%20Here%20are%20three%20Emirates-based%20players%20to%20watch%20out%20for.%0D%3Cbr%3E%20%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EHassan%20Khan%20Eisakhil%3C%2Fstrong%3E%0D%3Cbr%3EMohammed%20Nabi%20is%20still%20proving%20his%20worth%20at%20the%20top%20level%20but%20there%20is%20another%20reason%20he%20is%20raging%20against%20the%20idea%20of%20retirement.%20If%20the%20allrounder%20hangs%20on%20a%20little%20bit%20longer%2C%20he%20might%20be%20able%20to%20play%20in%20the%20same%20team%20as%20his%20son%2C%20Hassan%20Khan.%20The%20family%20live%20in%20Ajman%20and%20train%20in%20Sharjah.%0D%3Cbr%3E%20%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EMasood%20Gurbaz%3C%2Fstrong%3E%0D%3Cbr%3EThe%20opening%20batter%2C%20who%20trains%20at%20Sharjah%20Cricket%20Academy%2C%20is%20another%20player%20who%20is%20a%20part%20of%20a%20famous%20family.%20His%20brother%2C%20Rahmanullah%2C%20was%20an%20IPL%20winner%20with%20Kolkata%20Knight%20Riders%2C%20and%20opens%20the%20batting%20with%20distinction%20for%20Afghanistan.%0D%3Cbr%3E%20%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EOmid%20Rahman%3C%2Fstrong%3E%0D%3Cbr%3EThe%20fast%20bowler%20became%20a%20pioneer%20earlier%20this%20year%20when%20he%20became%20the%20first%20Afghan%20to%20represent%20the%20UAE.%20He%20showed%20great%20promise%20in%20doing%20so%2C%20too%2C%20playing%20a%20key%20role%20in%20the%20senior%20team%E2%80%99s%20qualification%20for%20the%20Asia%20Cup%20in%20Muscat%20recently.%0D%3Cbr%3E%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
In The Heights

Directed by: Jon M. Chu

Stars: Anthony Ramos, Lin-Manual Miranda

Rating: ****

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ESSENTIALS

The flights

Emirates flies from Dubai to Phnom Penh via Yangon from Dh2,700 return including taxes. Cambodia Bayon Airlines and Cambodia Angkor Air offer return flights from Phnom Penh to Siem Reap from Dh250 return including taxes. The flight takes about 45 minutes.

The hotels

Rooms at the Raffles Le Royal in Phnom Penh cost from $225 (Dh826) per night including taxes. Rooms at the Grand Hotel d'Angkor cost from $261 (Dh960) per night including taxes.

The tours

A cyclo architecture tour of Phnom Penh costs from $20 (Dh75) per person for about three hours, with Khmer Architecture Tours. Tailor-made tours of all of Cambodia, or sites like Angkor alone, can be arranged by About Asia Travel. Emirates Holidays also offers packages. 

Global state-owned investor ranking by size

1.

United States

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China

3.

UAE

4.

Japan

5

Norway

6.

Canada

7.

Singapore

8.

Australia

9.

Saudi Arabia

10.

South Korea
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ELIO

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Champions LeagueLionel MessiBarcelona