Stoichkov backs Coutinho to come good at Barcelona

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Philippe Coutinho can still be a success at Barcelona, according to Hristo Stoichkov.

The Brazilian has endured an underwhelming year at the Nou Camp since joining from Liverpool last January and is already being linked with a move away from the Spanish champions.

Can Coutinho succeed at Barcelona? Four key things to know…

  1. Coutinho joined Barcelona from Liverpool, signing for £146m in January 2018.
  2. But the Brazilian hasn’t quite kicked off at the Nou Camp, struggling to meet the high expectations as a result of his transfer fee.
  3. Coutinho has since been linked with leaving the club after just a year, with Manchester United among those mentioned.
  4. But Stoichkov has begged Coutinho to stay in an open letter, backing the Brazilian to come good.

But, in an open letter to Coutinho, Stoichkov implored the Brazilian to keep working on his Barcelona role.

He wrote: “I am writing these words to send you my most sincere support for the difficult moment you have been going through, although I’m sure there are a lot of players out there who would like to be in the same situation as you like when you scored those two vital goals against Sevilla in the Copa del Rey.

“And by the way, for the first goal, to have an incredible player like [Lionel] Messi asking you to take that penalty – a penalty which set the course for the rest of the tie. That’s a task that only the very best players are asked to do.

“Barca isn’t an easy club and during my first few months there, I suffered like you. I know how it feels when things aren’t turning out how you want, but I’m convinced that with hard work and sacrifice you’ll move forward because you have all the quality you need to do that. You are one of the best foreign players to have played for Barca.

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“You’ve got a lot of football in you to give Barca and the only thing you should be thinking about is enjoying your game. Enjoy it like you do with Brazil. I tried to enjoy playing like I always did with Bulgaria and I ended up enjoying myself exactly the same with Barca.”

Barcelona are currently sitting six points clear at the top of La Liga, but the Blaugrana are about to embark on probably their toughest group of fixtures this season.

It starts with a Clasico on Wednesday as Real Madrid travel to the Nou Camp in the first leg of the Copa del Rey semi-final, followed by league matches against Athletic Bilbao and Real Valladolid. The Champions League then returns with Barcelona facing Lyon in the last-16, before a league game against Sevilla.

Then, back-to-back Clasicos: first the Copa del Rey return leg before a league meeting just three days later. And Stoichkov believes Coutinho can be vital in this run, especially if Lionel Messi is rested after picking up a slight injury against Valencia at the weekend.

He added: “Never let yourself be disheartened because, from what I’ve seen, the fans are with you and want to see you succeed. Understand that they’re the best fans in the world and they’ll support you always – like they did with me.

“And besides, now’s not the time to feel down, we have every reason to feel positive. Forget all about the draw against Valencia. It’s starting to get tight at the top in La Liga, the Champions League is back and more than anything, we are about to face a month in which we’ll have three games on the trot against our eternal rivals, Real Madrid, who we can never rule out.

“The Clasico is the best game in the world and you yourself know what it’s like to score in one – it’s a feeling which cannot be matched. We’ll need you at your best to sew up the league and book our place in the Copa del Rey final – and even more so if the God of Football, Leo Messi is carrying a groin strain from the Valencia match.”

Stoichkov begs Coutinho not to go

Stoichkov’s long open letter finished with a simple plea to Coutinho, urging the Brazilian to stay at Barcelona.

“Lastly, a small favour. Please do not even think about joining another club, which is something I’ve read might happen in the press. There is no other club like ours,” he added.

“That’s why they say it’s more than a club. And anyway, you wouldn’t find another club with mates like Messi, [Luis] Suarez and Co. with whom you have a great time doing what you love most – playing football.

“I wish you all the best, with all of my heart, I am sure that you will make history at Barça. Keep your chin up! A big hug, Hristo.”

Host Jake Entwistle is joined by Sam Long and Will Hall for this week’s Squawka Talker to discuss Man City 3-1 Arsenal, the Bundesliga title race, Gonzalo Higuain’s start to life at Chelsea, the best of the rest beyond the ‘Big Six’ and the upcoming El Clasico.

The post Stoichkov backs Coutinho to come good at Barcelona appeared first on Squawka News.



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