Things at Camp Nou have turned from bad to worse with Ronald Koeman set to be sacked by Barcelona on Thursday - according to a report (Football Espana).
The crisis-hit La Liga giants' poor start to the season got even worse on Wednesday night as they were thumped 3-0 by Benfica in the Champions League without so much as a shot on target.
Koeman's team have also lost three of their opening six league matches. Barca players - including Sergio Busquets and Frenkie de Jong - have come out in defence of their manager but it may not be enough. Club bosses held a meeting upon their return from Lisbon that lasted all the way until dawn. President Joan Laporta, vice president Rafa Yuste, sporting director Mateu Alemany and advisor Enric Masip are all said to have been in attendance.
The report claims Koeman stands on the brink of being dismissed and that a decision could be finalised in the next few hours. Barca legend Xavi is among the early contenders to replace the Dutchman if he is finally let go. Belgium boss Roberto Martinez has also emerged as a potential candidate, while Laporta is believed to be a fan of Andrea Pirlo.
The Catalan club have endured a miserable year blighted by grave financial issues, the loss of Lionel Messi to Paris Saint-Germain and humiliation with the failed European Super League. The Barca president consoled players and reassured them that the situation would be fixed.
Koeman was not present at the time, undergoing his media duties, and so Laporta was keen to lift spirits. According to the report, it’s not the first time the Barcelona president has done this amid a difficult run of form of late. Koeman may well feel it undermines him given it is his role to pick the players up after such a defeat, but at this stage, the Dutchman is not in a position to raise complaints.