Ronald Koeman says, “Real Madrid have faced too much criticism so far this season”

Barcelona boss Ronald Koeman believes that some of the criticism that Real Madrid has received has been unwarranted.

Ahead of Saturday El Clasico, the Dutchman highlighted the fact that Los Blancos are in the quarter-finals of the Champions League, with one foot in the semi-finals after a 3-1 win over Liverpool in midweek, and are just three points off top spot in LaLiga Santander.

A Clasico is a different game from the others. Barcelona are doing well, [we] are on a good run, we are fighting to win,” Koeman said during Friday’s pre-Clasico press conference.

“Madrid has had too much criticism; they are in the Champions League and fighting for LaLiga. I’m not a supporter of the people who have criticized [them]. They have great players and it’s a great match. Both teams know the importance of winning.”

Saying that Koeman does not think that Saturday’s match will have a direct impact on the destination of the LaLiga Santander title.

“The result is not decisive, because after tomorrow’s game we still have many games to go and it’s difficult for any team to win all their matches,” Koeman explained.

“The team that wins [the Clasico] will have an important morale boost to build on.”

Reflecting on the first Clasico between the two sides, which Los Blancos won 3-1 at the Camp Nou, Koeman believes that Barcelona has improved a lot of things since then.

“We were better [in the first Clasico], especially before half time, then, of course, we lost the game in the second half,” he noted.

“The VAR with that penalty had an influence on the result, but it’s not true that we were bad at that time and now we are much better.

“The team has had chances all season, we have improved our finishing, in defense, the system we changed during the game… We don’t have to go crazy because it’s Madrid, we have to play our own game, [do] our own things.”

Clearly, Lionel Messi will play an important role if Barcelona are to come away from the Estadio Alfredo Di Stefano with a positive result, but the Dutch coach also expects to see the rest of his players at their best.

“We need the best Messi [to win], but we need the best Barcelona,” Koeman stated.

“We have to do things perfectly well, with our attack, passes, moves…”

Real Madrid is without Sergio Ramos and Raphael Varane, but Koeman thought that Los Blancos coped without them well against Liverpool.

“For them, they are important absentees,” he commented.

“We have absentees too – Sergi Roberto and [Gerard] Pique have been out for a while – but yes, they are two important and very good center-backs, and one of them is also their captain, who gives them a lot of personalities.

“But in the game against Liverpool, they showed that they have other players who can play in those positions.”

Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp was rather critical of Real Madrid’s temporary home of the Estadio Alfredo Di Stefano in the build-up to their Champions League meeting, but Koeman has come to Los Blancos’ defense.

“He’s trying to discredit a big club like Madrid, who have chosen this time without fans to do some work on their stadium,” Koeman said.

“They are used to playing on this pitch, the opponents have to play there and it’s not an important issue for me.”