Ronald Koeman ‘preparing wholesale changes’ to take on Getafe this weekend… with Barcelona facing run of four games in 11 DAYS – including two Champions League matches and El Clasico against Real Madrid!
- Barcelona are facing a hectic period of four matches across the next 11 days
- That run includes El Clasico and a Champions League game against Juventus
- First up is Getafe in LaLiga and boss Ronald Koeman ‘is ready to make changes’
- It is believed Miralem Pjanic, Sergino Dest and Trincao will all take on Getafe
Barcelona manager Ronald Koeman is ready to shake-up his side with a number of changes to face Getafe this weekend, according to reports in Spain.
Koeman is preparing to oversee a frantic four games in 11 days and it is vital he uses the depth of his squad, starting away to Getafe in LaLiga on Saturday.
Wednesday’s front page of newspaper Sport details that Miralem Pjanic, who arrived in the summer from Juventus, Trincao and Sergino Dest, the newest recruit from Ajax, are all ready to start at the Coliseum Alfonso Perez.
Barcelona ‘are planning a number of changes’ to face Getafe in LaLiga at the weekend
Ronald Koeman is reportedly planning to shuffle his side with four matches across 11 days
Barcelona’s packed schedule includes El Clasico at home to Real Madrid on October 24, sandwiched between two Champions League games.
Koeman’s side face Hungarian side Ferencvaros in their Group G opener on October 20 before facing Cristiano Ronaldo’s Juventus on October 28.
Pjanic, Trincao and Dest are yet to start any of Barcelona’s opening three games, having been handed fleeting roles off the bench.
Koeman’s South American stars – including Lionel Messi (left) and Philippe Coutinho (right) – could be rested with such little preparation time once they return to Barcelona on Thursday
The international break has complicated Koeman’s preparations for the visit to Getafe with a number of players due back late on Thursday.
That leaves just two training sessions to ensure there is no fatigue and players are clued up on the tactical plan for the opposition.
His South American stars, including Philippe Coutinho and Lionel Messi, could even be given an extra day’s rest after such long travel commitments for their countries.
They sit fifth in LaLiga after three games played with two wins – beating Villarreal and Celta Vigo – and a draw against Sevilla.
Barcelona are unbeaten in three league games under Koeman with two wins and one draw
Koeman has persisted with a 4-2-3-1 formation, spearheaded by Lionel Messi, in a bid to maximise Coutinho in a No 10 role.
The club typically adopted a 4-3-3 from youth teams to the first team but Koeman has stuck to his guns and has trusted the same personnel more or less in his first three games with Coutinho the pick of the bunch.
The Brazilian has been thriving and flanked by Ansu Fati and Antoine Griezmann, Koeman has created an exciting and dynamic front four as he looks to wrestle back the title from rivals Real Madrid.
