Ronald Koeman admitted he doesn't know if he has the support of the Barcelona board after a 3-0 defeat at Benfica in the Champions League.
Barca were subjected to yet another European humiliation that puts their hopes of reaching the knockout stage in doubt and left the Dutch coach on the brink.
Club president Joan Laporta will hold a meeting on Thursday morning, according to reports in Spain, in which it will be decided whether Koeman will stay in charge for Saturday's huge La Liga game against Atletico Madrid.
That fact that a change is even being considered before one of the most important games of the season shows how little confidence in Koeman there is left.
"I feel like I have the support of the players," said the 58-year-old. Asked if he felt supported by the club, Koeman said: "I don't know, I don't know, I don't know."
When Koeman, who played for Barca in 1989-1995, was appointed by Laporta's predecessor Josep Maria Bartomeu in August 2020 the club beamed "welcome home!" and called him "a legend".
But after an encouraging first season in which Barcelona won the Copa del Rey and in the end were disappointed not to win the league, Koeman's homecoming has quickly turned sour.
He has never enjoyed the backing of Laporta, who tried to find a replacement in the summer but was unable to find a suitable successor or more likely persuade them to join.
For a while it was a marriage of convenience, but the relationship has grown bitter in recent weeks, with Koeman's demands for support and attempts to lower expectations received with increasing irritation at the club.
"What I don't like is an attitude of acceptance, a certain defeatism," Laporta said last week.
Barcelona's dire financial situation would hamper any coach as a string of senior players have left and inferior ones been brought in. Lionel Messi and Antoine Griezmann were allowed to depart, replaced by Memphis Depay and Luuk de Jong.
Koeman has emphasised the point repeatedly that this team is not the Barcelona of old and expectations have to be adjusted accordingly.
"We have changed many things and we are missing some soldiers," said Koeman. "I'm tired of always repeating the same thing. We have lost the players who made the difference. For me it is clearer than water."
Wednesday night's drubbing will not have helped Koeman's cause. The Catalan club followed their 3-0 opening loss against Bayern Munich with the same scoreline to leave them bottom of the group and in danger of missing the knockout stage for the first time since 2000-01.
“We are in a critical situation,” Barcelona captain Sergio Busquets said. “We have zero points after the first two rounds."
Darwin Nunez scored twice — his first three minutes into the match — and Rafa Silva added another goal at the Stadium of Light to help Benfica end a 60-year winless streak against Barcelona. It was its second victory in eight matches against the Catalan club.
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Know your Camel lingo
The bairaq is a competition for the best herd of 50 camels, named for the banner its winner takes home
Namoos - a word of congratulations reserved for falconry competitions, camel races and camel pageants. It best translates as 'the pride of victory' - and for competitors, it is priceless
Asayel camels - sleek, short-haired hound-like racers
Majahim - chocolate-brown camels that can grow to weigh two tonnes. They were only valued for milk until camel pageantry took off in the 1990s
Millions Street - the thoroughfare where camels are led and where white 4x4s throng throughout the festival
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Ten tax points to be aware of in 2026
1. Domestic VAT refund amendments: request your refund within five years
If a business does not apply for the refund on time, they lose their credit.
2. E-invoicing in the UAE
Businesses should continue preparing for the implementation of e-invoicing in the UAE, with 2026 a preparation and transition period ahead of phased mandatory adoption.
3. More tax audits
Tax authorities are increasingly using data already available across multiple filings to identify audit risks.
4. More beneficial VAT and excise tax penalty regime
Tax disputes are expected to become more frequent and more structured, with clearer administrative objection and appeal processes. The UAE has adopted a new penalty regime for VAT and excise disputes, which now mirrors the penalty regime for corporate tax.
5. Greater emphasis on statutory audit
There is a greater need for the accuracy of financial statements. The International Financial Reporting Standards standards need to be strictly adhered to and, as a result, the quality of the audits will need to increase.
6. Further transfer pricing enforcement
Transfer pricing enforcement, which refers to the practice of establishing prices for internal transactions between related entities, is expected to broaden in scope. The UAE will shortly open the possibility to negotiate advance pricing agreements, or essentially rulings for transfer pricing purposes.
7. Limited time periods for audits
Recent amendments also introduce a default five-year limitation period for tax audits and assessments, subject to specific statutory exceptions. While the standard audit and assessment period is five years, this may be extended to up to 15 years in cases involving fraud or tax evasion.
8. Pillar 2 implementation
Many multinational groups will begin to feel the practical effect of the Domestic Minimum Top-Up Tax (DMTT), the UAE's implementation of the OECD’s global minimum tax under Pillar 2. While the rules apply for financial years starting on or after January 1, 2025, it is 2026 that marks the transition to an operational phase.
9. Reduced compliance obligations for imported goods and services
Businesses that apply the reverse-charge mechanism for VAT purposes in the UAE may benefit from reduced compliance obligations.
10. Substance and CbC reporting focus
Tax authorities are expected to continue strengthening the enforcement of economic substance and Country-by-Country (CbC) reporting frameworks. In the UAE, these regimes are increasingly being used as risk-assessment tools, providing tax authorities with a comprehensive view of multinational groups’ global footprints and enabling them to assess whether profits are aligned with real economic activity.
Contributed by Thomas Vanhee and Hend Rashwan, Aurifer
