Close to the end of an incredible season for Barcelona, manager Ernesto Valverde has revealed a lot in his recent press conference ahead of Sunday night’s clash against Deportivo La Coruna.

Despite losing Neymar, Barcelona has defied the odds in the La Liga and remain the only unbeaten side left in Europe’s top five footballing leagues. With both fans and critics expecting the club to suffer after losing a key star, Ernesto Valverde has strengthened the club, thanks to the wealth of experience and tactical plans that the Barcelona manager is known for.

However, his tactics wouldn’t have worked if not for an incredible group of players with the likes of Jordi Alaba, Marc-Andre Ter Stegen, Luis Suarez, Paulinho and even Lionel Messi stepping up and taking the team to new heights. While the club did get knocked out of the Champions League in the quarter-finals, after an incredible performance by AS Roma, Ernesto Valverde still has the board’s support with President Josep Maria Bartomeu coming out in favor of the Spaniard.

And with Barcelona needing just a point to be crowned Champions, Manager Ernesto Valverde had a lot to say in his press conference, ahead of the Deportivo La Coruna clash. He first addressed how to replace Andres Iniesta, with the Barcelona legend announcing that he will be leaving the club at the end of the season.

“Let’s not kid ourselves, Iniesta is irreplaceable. He’s one of a kind. He gives you things you can’t get from any other player,” revealed Valverde talking about the 2010 World Cup winner. “So when you have a player of that level you have to try to find other balance in the team.  We know that Barcelona has a very set style of football.  

It’s very clear how we play but what Iniesta gives you is what you can’t get from any other player. We need to find the right balance in the squad. Coaches learn from the players. We have a certain idea of things.  We have ideas of tactics but it’s the players who contribute everything in every sense.  

Great players like Andres teach you that there are other things, which they seem to understand very naturally. It makes you think of other ways. You learn every day.”

When a legend says goodbye…#Infinit8Iniesta pic.twitter.com/bNw5eLEXyh

— FC Barcelona (@FCBarcelona) April 27, 2018

A humiliating defeat to AS Roma had many fans and even critics questioning Valverde’s tactics and even if he was the right man to lead Barcelona to a Champions League trophy. But with president Bartomeu coming in support of Valverde, the Barcelona manager further added about his future at Camp Nou. “I have no doubt that people will talk about this over the season, they always talk about the coach.  You are quite right it’s just speculation I have nothing to say about this,” the 54-year-old went on to say. “I have a contract for next season and I am very happy here.

For now, we want to be the best. We’ve worked all season long and now there’s one step remaining. We’ll try to clinch the title tomorrow.”

Author’s take:

It has been a rollercoaster season for Barcelona, first losing Neymar to PSG and then the SuperCopa to Real Madrid. But since the Catalan giants have been impeccable winning 25 games with 8 draws out of their 33 in the La Liga and winning 60% of their matches in the Champions League. Not only that, they are on their way to a League double, having already won the Copa Del Rey.

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