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Koeman KO coming

Valencia coach on his way despite cup glory

Posted: 19th April 2008 16:13

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Koeman: on his way out

The Valencia fans were chanting his name after the 3-1 Copa del Rey win though, but unfortunately it was as in "Koeman go now". This should be his last game in charge.

Guillem Balague
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Our Spanish football expert Guillem Balague looks ahead to another weekend of live La Liga action on Sky Sports - and he answers your emails.

Got a question for Guillem? Then send it in here

SATURDAY
Barcelona v Espanyol
Sevilla v Almeria
SUNDAY
Racing Santander v Real Madrid
Athletic Bilbao v Valencia

Barcelona v Espanyol
7.00pm, Saturday, Sky Sports Xtra

This is a derby between two teams in depression, I'm afraid.

Espanyol have lost 10 out of the last 13 games which is amazing really because they are still in with a chance of even qualfying for the Champions League.

But the dynamic of the squad is so negative. There is such a lack of confidence that they look unable to turn their form around and (even I) don't expect them to finish in that crucial fourth position.

Barcelona are not much better off and have given up on the league.

They did that last weekend at Recreativo when they left Bojan and Thierry Henry behind and rested Andreas Iniesta, who had only a slight injury.

I spent some time this week with Xavi and Carles Puyol and they are looking forward to that Champions League semi-final with Manchester United.

And they do think Barcelona have a chance and are surprised to see everybody making United such clear favourites because these are two similar teams, with the same strenghts and weaknesses.

With those two games in mind, the Espanyol game will be a chance for Lionel Messi to get a few more minutes under his belt, but not much else, I'm afraid.

Sevilla v Almeria
9.00pm, Saturday, Sky Sports Xtra

I think Luis Fabiano's situation, after he was taken off last week and has come out and said he wants to have a word with Manuel Jim�nez, suggests what we have been suspecting for a while and what I have mentioned before - not everybody believes in the Sevilla boss.

Not even now, it seems, the chairman Jos� Mar�a del Nido. He seems a little less committed to keep Jim�nez for next season than he was a couple of months back, when he had to.

There has been one name linked with Sevilla next season, that of Marcelino of Racing Santander, but I get the feeling he will be the subject of bigger offers, not least Valencia.

Racing Santander v Real Madrid
6.00pm (via red button), Sunday, Sky Sports 1

This is a very, very interesting game.

Racing coach Marcelino is one of the new breed of Spanish coaches who mixes technical ability with tactical acumen.

He works hard on things like set pieces, the finer details and keeps the fine balance of not killing improvisation, which is something that doesn't normally mix well with Spanish football.

It means this is the hardest game Real Madrid have left this season. I say that because by the time they play Barcelona, they could already be champions.

If they pick up three points here they'll basically arrive at the Bernabeu for El Classico as champions for the second year in a row.

There isn't much other news coming out of Madrid this week, apart from one Spanish paper saying that Ronaldinho's arrival at AC Milan in the summer will move Kaka a step closer to Real, but I don't believe that at all.

Athletic Bilbao v Valencia
8.00pm, Sunday, Sky Sports 1

This will probably be Ronald Koeman's last game in charge of Valencia.

They go into this game five points above the relegation zone and three points at the San Mames is an absolute necessity, even after their Copa del Rey win in midweek.

There was a very strange atmosphere as they beat Getafe. The Valencia directors did not shake hands with, or even cross paths with, Koeman.

He was very much a lone figure as everybody was celebrating, but not so much the coach, who was expecting to be sacked after lifting the cup - that is how bad the situation is.

The Valencia fans were chanting his name after the 3-1 win though, but unfortunately it was as in "Koeman go now". This should be his last game in charge.

Guillem will be back answering your questions next week. To send one in, either use the feedback form below or mail it to skysportsclub@bskyb.com (put Guillem Balague in the subject field)

Athletic Bilbao v Valencia. Click here to bet.

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Comments

Josh Wilcoxson (Nottingham Forest fan) says...

Poor Koeman? He wasn't sleeping on the job, he was awake the whole time and actively sabotaging the team. You can't just show up and axe 1/4 of the Spanish national side and expect everything to be cool. Does anyone remember when Angulo scored to save Rafa Benitez's job a few years ago?

Posted 09:18 25th April 2008

Isaac Kiplagat (Manchester United fan) says...

Guillem Balague was damn right...Koeman's coffin was in the works and after the gutting in Bilbao,he is being laid in there and the nails hammered hard..poor Koeman.But he slept on the job anyway!

Posted 23:55 20th April 2008

Eamon Cleary (Manchester United fan) says...

Im a fan of athletic bilbao, and was wanting to know will they, in the near future, abandon their "Basque Only" policy. I know they have never been relegated from la liga, but would be great if they were competing for the title, and this can only come about if they scrap that policy. Even adopt the same policy as Sociedad and only sign non-spanish players. I know the Basque people are proud of their traditions.....wat do u think?

Posted 19:23 20th April 2008

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