Spanish papers hail Koeman’s expected appointment and slam Bartomeu

‘Koeman arrives, the crisis continues’: Spanish papers hail Dutchman’s expected appointment as Barcelona’s new manager but continue assault on Josep Maria Bartomeu, who is described as ‘the worst president in the club’s history’

  • Spanish sport papers continue to focus their coverage on Barcelona on Tuesday
  • Two of the biggest publications lead their front pages on Ronald Koeman
  • The Dutchman is set to be the club’s new manager after Quique Setien’s sacking 
  • President Josep Maria Bartomeu comes in for more fierce criticism on Tuesday
  • He is described as ‘the worst president in the club’s history’ by one publication 

The Spanish press have hailed the impending arrival of Ronald Koeman as the new Barcelona manager but took aim at president Josep Maria Bartomeu as the fall out from their dismal defeat by Bayern Munich continues.

Tuesday’s front pages in Spain were littered with pictures of Koeman as he prepares to replace Quique Setien, who was sacked on Monday after the 8-2 defeat by the Germans in the Champions League quarter-finals.

Bartomeu called for an emergency board meeting on Monday in the wake of the humiliating defeat and axed the club’s manager, as well as promising a ‘restructure of the first team’.

‘Koeman arrives, the crisis continues’ was the headline on Marca’s front page on Tuesday

'Koeman the replacement' was the headline of SPORT ahead of the Dutchman's arrival as boss

‘Koeman the replacement’ was the headline of SPORT ahead of the Dutchman’s arrival as boss

Marca’s front page boasts the headline ‘Koeman arrives, the crisis continues’ as they offer a bleak assessment of the challenges facing the Dutchman.

It bears a picture of Koeman back from his playing days at the Nou Camp as they get set to appoint one of the greatest players in the club’s history. 

The former Everton manager is reportedly set to tear up his contract with the Dutch national team at begin work at the Nou Camp in the near future. 

Koeman played for Barcelona for six years during a highly successful career that saw him win LaLiga four times, as well as the Copa del Rey and European Cup. 

SPORT’s front page is also led on Koeman, declaring him ‘the replacement’. 

The SPORT cover also boasts news of the change in date of Barcelona’s presidency elections. The club announced on Monday that elections will take place on the first match day from March 15 next year after they were brought forward. 

They say March was the most convenient time to hold elections given that the season starts in September, with the formal announcement of the elections to take place in January. 

AS went with 'Getting away with it' as they took aim at president Josep Maria Bartomeu

AS went with ‘Getting away with it’ as they took aim at president Josep Maria Bartomeu

Mundo Deportivo's front page described Bartomeu as 'the worst president' in the club's history

Mundo Deportivo’s front page described Bartomeu as ‘the worst president’ in the club’s history

The other two major Spanish papers have gone with Bartomeu on their front page as they take aim at the president and his position at the centre of the current crisis.

AS claim Bartomeu is ‘Getting away with it’ in their headline as he tries to reduce some of the pressure on the club’s hierarchy by sacking the manager and promising wide scale changes.

They also mention that sporting director Eric Abidal and his assistant, Ramon Planes, are likely to carry on in their roles, despite the club’s abysmal recruitment in recent transfer windows.

Mundo Deportivo’s front page has an image of Lionel Messi and Bartomeu, two of the key protagonists in the crisis.

Their headline reads simply: ‘Messi, yes; Bartomeu, no’ and features a message at the bottom of the front page reading: ‘The club is more important than the economic interests of the worst president in the history of Barcelona’.

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