'The team is much better than you might think': Koeman hit back at Barcelona critics

The boss has praised his players after Thursday's 3-0 victory at Celta.

“We have done a great job, I am very proud. We have worked with a lot of discipline with one less and we have created good chances. I’m very happy," Ronald Koeman told the post-Celta presser on Thursday.

"It was important to talk to the team at halftime, about the system. We have been very compact. In the end, the result is fair.

“I cannot comment on what happened last year. From day one I have seen the players very hungry. They have trained with great intensity, they play as they train. Today they have shown until the last second, on a difficult field, that we are very well physically.

“Like any coach, I need time, but the team is much better than you might think. We have six points, we have scored seven goals and we have not conceded any. This shows that we are growing.”

Barcelona's reputation took a massive hit after the 8-2 Champions League defeat at the hands of Bayern Munich in August.

The Catalans are yet to lose a single game under Koeman, beating Villarreal (4-0) and Celta (3-0) in the two opening matchdays of the La Liga season. The Blaugrana also won each of their three pre-season friendlies under the new boss.