Busquets: it would be 'easy' to sack Koeman but team are also responsible

Sergio Busquets says it would be 'easy' to sack Ronald Koeman following Barcelona's 3-0 defeat to Benfica in the Champions League, but insists the team are also 'responsible for the critical situation'.

Barcelona are currently sitting bottom of Group F after losing their first two Champions League fixtures to Bayern Munich and Benfica - marking their worst start to the competition since the 1972-1973 campaign.

Busquets claims Barcelona must stay 'positive' and 'focus on fighting back' against Dynamo Kyiv to progress through to the next stage of the competition.

Speaking after the game, Busquets said: 'It's easy to sack the manager. But the truth is we're all responsible for this situation. And it's a critical one, to be honest.

'But we are still only two games into the group and we need to focus on fighting back. We need to beat Dynamo Kyiv twice and watch what our rivals do. There's a long road left in this group and we have to try to stay positive.

'We had chances but I'm not too sure if we got any of them on target. Statistics only say so much - if we didn't put one on target that still doesn't mean we didn't create good opportunities.

'When we pushed up in the match Benfica broke and went one-on-one against our centre-halves. Two goals came that way.'

Frenkie de Jong also shared his thoughts on Koeman's position at the club, saying: 'I can't talk about Koeman, it's not for me to say.

'I don't think changing the coach can solve anything. But players' loyalty might not be enough for the 58-year-old coach.

'We are trying everything, working hard in training, we are trying our best on the field but today was not our day, that is clear.

'I still have faith that we can go through. We have to win our remaining games. We have lost the first two games.'

Koeman - who has also dropped points to Cadiz and Levante in LaLiga - understands the pressure he is under and recognises that importance of picking up results.

Speaking about Barcelona's latest humiliation, he said: 'This is not the team of years gone by. It's crystal clear.

'The result is hard to take. I don't think it's a fair reflection. After conceding so early we responded well but we couldn't score.

'They are very quick and strong. There are a lot teams stronger than us.'

Koeman's position at the club is clearly under threat. However, the club's financial restraints have complicated the process of replacing him.

The club would have to pay the manager around £10.4million (€12m) and because they are outside the limits of La Liga's financial fairplay they are subject to a special rule that means they can only bring in new players (or a new coach) for a quarter of the cost of those leaving.

There is leeway in the way these league rules are applied but it could mean that if Barcelona lost Koeman who earns around €8m (£6.9m) they would only be able to bring in a coach for around €2m (£1.7m).

Nevertheless, Barcelona return to action in LaLiga on Saturday when they travel to Atletico Madrid to face their former team-mates Luiz Suarez and Antoine Griezmann.