Barca's Koeman Has No Issue with Players' Commitment

Pressure is mounting on Barcelona coach Ronald Koeman after Thursday's goalless draw with Cadiz. (AFP)
Pressure is mounting on Barcelona coach Ronald Koeman after Thursday's goalless draw with Cadiz. (AFP)
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Barca's Koeman Has No Issue with Players' Commitment

Pressure is mounting on Barcelona coach Ronald Koeman after Thursday's goalless draw with Cadiz. (AFP)
Pressure is mounting on Barcelona coach Ronald Koeman after Thursday's goalless draw with Cadiz. (AFP)

Barcelona manager Ronald Koeman had no complaints about the attitude and commitment of his team after Thursday's 0-0 draw with Cadiz and instead lamented the raft of injuries that robbed him of several first-choice players.

The goalless draw left Barca seventh in La Liga on nine points from five games, already seven points behind leaders Real Madrid, and heaped more pressure on Koeman, who was dismissed in the dying seconds of the game for dissent..

Barcelona President Joan Laporta had backed Koeman as manager before the match but also said he had to start producing better football and that the board would not shirk tough decisions if they needed to be made.

While disappointed that Barca had failed to pick up all three points for a second successive match, Koeman said it was more important to look at how the team had played overall.

"It's not always down to a result. We have to analyze what the team did, the attitude of the team, the commitment of the team and I can't complain about any of that from this game," the Dutchman told reporters.

"I'm not happy, of course, because we had four or five clear chances and we didn't score any goals," he said, adding that the sending off of Frenkie de Jong made it even more difficult.

"What I take away is the attitude, not my own personal situation. Because if we win it looks like we carry on, and if not we look for another coach - and that's a question for you."

Koeman said the absence of a number of first team players had contributed to their lackluster display. Barca, who were held to a 1-1 draw at home against lowly Granada on Monday, were missing Jordi Alba, Sergio Aguero and Pedri among others.

"I have said several times you always have to try and win every game," Koeman added.

"But you have to be realistic, look at the squad we have and the players missing ... we've got seven starters out."



Esports World Cup 2025 Kicks Off in Riyadh

The seven-week global event transforms Riyadh into a dynamic hub of gaming and culture, drawing entertainment enthusiasts from around the world. SPA
The seven-week global event transforms Riyadh into a dynamic hub of gaming and culture, drawing entertainment enthusiasts from around the world. SPA
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Esports World Cup 2025 Kicks Off in Riyadh

The seven-week global event transforms Riyadh into a dynamic hub of gaming and culture, drawing entertainment enthusiasts from around the world. SPA
The seven-week global event transforms Riyadh into a dynamic hub of gaming and culture, drawing entertainment enthusiasts from around the world. SPA

Esports World Cup 2025 has officially launched in Riyadh. The seven-week global event transforms the capital into a dynamic hub of gaming, culture, art, and community, drawing entertainment enthusiasts from around the world.

Held at Boulevard Riyadh City, the festival offers a variety of innovative experiences across multiple zones. Highlights include the Aramco SIM Arena, featuring advanced car racing simulations; the stc Arena and Amazon Arena, which host community competitions; a Content Creator Park for influencers; a main stage for family-friendly entertainment; and themed areas such as the Jameel Motorsport Park and the Japanese Garden.

The festival runs alongside Esports World Cup 2025 competitions, attracting global esports fans to Riyadh. Building on the success of the inaugural 2024 event, this year’s tournament features intense preparations and will showcase top-tier competitions in games such as VALORANT, Fatal Fury: City of the Wolves, and Apex Legends. The event continues the Club Championship format, which awards clubs based on multi-title performance to crown the world’s top esports organization.

Esports World Cup 2025 brings together elite players and teams from across the globe to compete for a record-breaking prize pool exceeding $70 million, the largest in esports history.

Over 2,000 professional players representing 200 premier clubs from more than 100 countries will participate in 25 tournaments covering 24 esports titles, all broadcast under extensive global media coverage.