Barcelona head coach Ronald Koeman was very pleased with his team's opening game of the 2021/22 LaLiga Santander season.
In what was also the first game of the post-Lionel Messi era for the Blaugrana and the first game with fans back, Koeman's side were 4-2 victors over Real Sociedad at the Camp Nou on Sunday night.
"It was great to have our people in the stadium, they pushed us from the start and they were with the team," Koeman said after the match.
"It's another world with fans, we enjoyed it. It seemed like there were more than 20,000. They helped us as we need to be strong at home.
"It was a fantastic match in every sense, for the fans, the play, the win..."
In Koeman's first starting line-up of the new season, he gave debuts to Eric Garcia and Memphis Depay, who both impressed.
"[Memphis] had a great game and provided a great assist," the coach said.
"[Garcia] played very well, he was well positioned. Safe. He made good decisions.
"Our defence was good, but at the end of the match we lacked concentration during some plays."
The aforementioned new arrivals were only registered with LaLiga just in time to play and thanks to Gerard Pique taking a pay cut. The coach praised the veteran defender's influence on and off the pitch.
"For me [Pique] was also a leader last season," Koeman said.
"This season he's better physically. His attitude has been exemplary, just like the other veterans."
While admitting he would love to still have Messi in his team, the Dutchman was delighted with how his team played collectively, while also singling out Martin Braithwaite for praise.
"I think [Braithwaite] is an example of a professional, he always works for the team and has improved his play," the Dutchman said.
"He helps us a lot and he's quick and hard to stop. I'm delighted to have players like him."
Source: m.allfootballapp.com