Ronald Koeman has been sacked by Everton following Sunday’s 5-2 defeat by Arsenal, the club has confirmed.
Bohemian rhapsodies were once the domain of Freddie Mercury, but Ronald Koeman was inspired enough by the quaint setting to talk up Everton’s chances of conquering Europe, writes Mike Walters in Ruzomberok.
After his £100million trolley dash, and the promise of more big-money signings, Everton manager Koeman’s first hurdle before a ball has been kicked in the Premier League is to make sure he doesn’t come a cropper in a 4,500-capacity potting shed in northern Slovakia.
If his Blues preserve a one-goal advantage from the first leg of this third qualifying round tie in the tiny Stadion Pod Cebratom here, Koeman can dream of taking the Europa League group stages by storm
Everyon players celebrating Leighton Baines first Leg goal
Imago: getty images
But if MFK Ruzomberok pull off a giant-killing on the biggest night in the town’s history, Big Ron will have to explain how owner Farhad Moshiri’s fortune and £75m from the sale of Romelu Lukaku barely took him past Calais.
If last week was all about Wayne Rooney’s homecoming in a blue shirt, this is all about the result.
And if Everton progress to the play-off round, as they should, Koeman believes he will be presiding over a squad equipped to challenge on four fronts top four and domestic cups at home, plus Europe by the time the transfer window shuts.
He said: “We had a very good season last year to get into Europe and we didn’t do that just to play two Europa League games.
“We like to compete in every tournament, including Europe, and if we can do all the business we would like to do before the end of August, I expect to be managing a very strong team but it is still too early for me to reach those conclusions.
“What is really important for us is to come here and go through to the next round.”
Source: Mike Walters
Everton Manager, Ronald Koeman is already shopping for a replacement for wantaway Striker, Romelu Lukaku and the Dutch tactician seems to have found a suitable goal poacher in Henry Onyekuru.
Ronald Koeman, Everton manager who is in his first season in charge having arrived from Southampton in the summer has frequently been linked with a return to his old club since Luis Enrique announced he was stepping down at the end of the season.
The former Netherlands defender, who spent six years at the Nou Camp between 1989 and 1995, Ronald Koeman admits he dreams of managing Barcelona.
“Everyone knows that I am from Barca, they know my love for a club where I grew up as a player and as a person,” he told Catalan newspaper Sport.
“In football, as in life, as in business, everything can be talked about and discussed.
“In my life as a professional coach I have two dreams to fulfil. One, coach my country, Holland [he was previously assistant to Guus Hiddink for the 1998 World Cup].
“My other wish, my other dream, is to one day coach Barca. That’s the truth.
“I now owe Everton. We have a very powerful and exciting project and we will reinforce our best to try to reach next season the Champions League.”
Everton boss Ronald Koeman has indicated that the club will look to sell Ross Barkley this summer if the England midfielder does not sign a new contract.
Barkley’s current deal expires in 2018 and Everton are looking prepared to cash in rather than risk him walking away at the end of next season if he does not re-sign.
Speaking after his team’s 4-2 win against Leicester at Goodison Park, Koeman gave a straight response when asked what could be done to fix the 23-year-old’s future.
“We offer him a new contract, and then (there are) two possibilities,” Koeman said.
“One, he signs that contract, if he doesn’t sign that contract then we need to sell the player. It’s simple – it’s not so difficult in my opinion.”
“We try to keep the best players,” Koeman added.
“We spoke a lot about Ross and Rom because they are really important.
“Most of the time the quality of the players can be the difference between Everton and the opponent, and they played really well.”
Lukaku’s future has also been in doubt, with the Belgian rejecting a new contract.