• Barcelona manager Ronald Koemam with striker Sergio Aguero during training at the Joan Gamper Sports City ion Tuesday, October 26, ahead of their La Liga match against Rayo Vallecano. EPA
    Barcelona manager Ronald Koemam with striker Sergio Aguero during training at the Joan Gamper Sports City ion Tuesday, October 26, ahead of their La Liga match against Rayo Vallecano. EPA
  • Barcelona's Samuel Umtiti, left, and midfielder Osmane Dembele during a training session at Joan Gamper Sports City. EPA
    Barcelona's Samuel Umtiti, left, and midfielder Osmane Dembele during a training session at Joan Gamper Sports City. EPA
  • Barcelona manager Ronald Koemam with defender Samuel Umtiti, left, and Gerard Pique during a training session at Joan Gamper Sports City. EPA
    Barcelona manager Ronald Koemam with defender Samuel Umtiti, left, and Gerard Pique during a training session at Joan Gamper Sports City. EPA
  • Barcelona's midfielder Philippe Coutinho during training on Tuesday. EPA
    Barcelona's midfielder Philippe Coutinho during training on Tuesday. EPA
  • Gerard Pique during Barca's training session at Joan Gamper Sports City. EPA
    Gerard Pique during Barca's training session at Joan Gamper Sports City. EPA
  • Barcelona's striker Luuk de Jong during a training session at Joan Gamper Sports City . EPA
    Barcelona's striker Luuk de Jong during a training session at Joan Gamper Sports City . EPA
  • Ronald Koemam after the team training session at Joan Gamper Sports City. EPA
    Ronald Koemam after the team training session at Joan Gamper Sports City. EPA
  • FC Barcelona's Dutch head coach Ronald Koemam (C) with his staff Alfred Schreuder (R) and Henrik Larsson (L) during a training session at Joan Gamper Sports City in Barcelona, Catalonia 26 October 2021 in preparation for their next LaLiga match against Rayo Vallecano. EPA / Alejandro Garcia
    FC Barcelona's Dutch head coach Ronald Koemam (C) with his staff Alfred Schreuder (R) and Henrik Larsson (L) during a training session at Joan Gamper Sports City in Barcelona, Catalonia 26 October 2021 in preparation for their next LaLiga match against Rayo Vallecano. EPA / Alejandro Garcia
  • Barcelona goalkeepers Marc-Andre ter Stegen, left, and Neto Murara during training. EPA
    Barcelona goalkeepers Marc-Andre ter Stegen, left, and Neto Murara during training. EPA

Koeman puts on brave face during Barcelona training with job on the line - in pictures


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Ronald Koeman oversaw Barcelona's training session ahead of their next challenging fixture - against an in-form Rayo Vallecano - seemingly at the end of his stint as manager.

The Dutchman was appointed in August 2020 but has seen the club's fortunes plummet after Lionel Messi moved to Paris Saint-Germain earlier this year. An indifferent start to the season has yielded just 15 points from nine league games, with pressure on the manager mounting after the clasico defeat to Real Madrid.

"I'm a grown up and I know how those things work," Koeman said.

"I want to enjoy the time that I have left, either if it is eight years, six months, one year, or some weeks. I think it's important that we win this game, we can't afford back-to-back losses."

Koeman also dismissed the significance of some supporters surrounding his car as he made his exit from Camp Nou following the defeat to Real.

"It is a social problem. Uneducated people that don’t understand rules and values. Inside the stadium the environment was completely different and that is what I keep in mind, that festive vibe, not with those kinds of people," he said.

A major issue for Koeman is that he may be without teenage forward Ansu Fati because of pain in his surgically repaired right knee.

"He doesn't feel right, we will decide on Wednesday morning if he makes the trip," the manager said.

Updated: October 27, 2021, 2:35 AM