Barcelona chief Jordi Cruyff rescued coach Ronald Koeman's job last week.

After their Champions League defeat at Benfica, Barca president Joan Laporta was ready to sack the Dutchman, reports TV3 via Mundo Deportivo. Indeed, word had reached local media outlets to prepare to attend a media conference in the coming hours for the announcement.

However, Jordi intervened and spoke with Laporta, urging him to give Koeman a chance to turn things around.

Jordi argued Koeman deserved the opportunity to work with a fully fit Sergio Aguero, Ansu Fati and Ousmane Dembele, before a final decision was to be made.

Laporta was convinced and stunned board members when he announced on Friday morning: "Koeman is our coach and deserves our confidence."

It was a sentence that came directly from the intervention of Jordi. The former Barca striker joined Laporta's front office last month after leaving his coaching post with Shenzen FC in China.

- updated October 6