Laporta backs Koeman, warns Barca to have ambition

MADRID - FC Barcelona president Joan Laporta said on Thursday that coach Ronald Koeman would continue at his post regardless of his side's result away to Cadiz.

Koeman's future was further cast into doubt after last week's defeat to Bayern Munich in the Champions League and a 1-1 draw at home to Granada on Monday. Instead of holding his usual pre-match press conference on Wednesday, he opted to read a brief statement, in which he highlighted the problems in the club and asked patience from fans and the institution.

Many were shocked by Koeman's words, which seemed to rule out any challenge for silverware this season. It was even speculated that Laporta could sack him before Thursday's match.

It now looks as if coach's future is safe for the time being after Laporta told TV show 'El Chiringuito' that "Koeman's future does not depend on tonight's result."

"We are with the coach. He is the coach of the Barca first team, and what we want is for things to go well for him," added the Barca president.

However, Laporta also had a warning for Koeman that things must improve. "All coaches, not just Koeman, are highly conditioned by results," he commented, saying that no Barca coach could give up on winning titles.

"We can't allow that at Barcelona. We have the team we have, but we can aspire to win the league and the players tell me so. Uou have to be optimistic, you have to work, you have to fight every day, because I believe that success is achieved with daily work. Less talking, more doing and more working," he concluded.