Kevin-Prince Boateng, a former FC Barcelona player during the second part of the 2018-19 season, was coached by Roberto de Zerbi at Sassuolo, who is currently the coach at Brighton. There are talks that he might replace Xavi Hernández this season on the Barcelona bench. Boateng, who is now 36 years old and retired, supports the Italian coach with strong arguments. During a football chat with Rio Ferdinand, a legend from Manchester United, Boateng stated that “De Zerbi is the best in many aspects – as a coach, as a person, in helping each player improve, and in making the team better.” Boateng used himself as an example, mentioning that he played only half of the 2018-19 season with Sassuolo, scoring 5 goals in 15 games. This performance led to a loan to Barcelona, where he had limited playing time. He said, “I was already 32 years old when I played for him, and he made me better, just like he did with every team he coached. Every player improved. Locatelli moved to Juventus and Sensi went to Inter. He shows you that everything you do on the field matters.” Boateng explained De Zerbi’s coaching style: “He places small squares on the field, so you know that if you have the ball in one square, four squares diagonally, the number 8 will be free there. Each player has six passing options – it’s amazing. Distances, body position, rhythm, footwork, everything matters. He aims for perfection and transforms ordinary players into stars.”
Kevin-Prince Boateng, a former FC Barcelona player during the second part of the 2018-19 season, was coached by Roberto de Zerbi at Sassuolo, who is currently the coach at Brighton. There are talks that he might replace Xavi Hernández this season on the Barcelona bench. Boateng, who is now 36 years old and retired, supports the Italian coach with strong arguments.
During a football chat with Rio Ferdinand, a legend from Manchester United, Boateng stated that “De Zerbi is the best in many aspects – as a coach, as a person, in helping each player improve, and in making the team better.”
Boateng used himself as an example, mentioning that he played only half of the 2018-19 season with Sassuolo, scoring 5 goals in 15 games. This performance led to a loan to Barcelona, where he had limited playing time. He said, “I was already 32 years old when I played for him, and he made me better, just like he did with every team he coached. Every player improved. Locatelli moved to Juventus and Sensi went to Inter. He shows you that everything you do on the field matters.”
Boateng explained De Zerbi’s coaching style: “He places small squares on the field, so you know that if you have the ball in one square, four squares diagonally, the number 8 will be free there. Each player has six passing options – it’s amazing. Distances, body position, rhythm, footwork, everything matters. He aims for perfection and transforms ordinary players into stars.”
