MX23RW : Thursday, April 25 07:14:34| >> :120:40640:40640:

Barcelona president Bartomeu: 'We are very happy with Valverde'

Barcelona president Bartomeu: 'We are very happy with Valverde'
© Reuters
Barca were knocked out of the Champions League by Liverpool in a dramatic semi-final.

Barcelona boss Ernesto Valverde's job is safe, according to club president Josep Maria Bartomeu.

Valverde is closing in on completing back-to-back domestic doubles but has overseen embarrassing Champions League exits in both of his seasons in charge at the Nou Camp.

Barcelona blew a 4-1 first-leg advantage to lose on away goals against Roma in last season's quarter-finals, before Liverpool overturned a 3-0 Nou Camp deficit to win 4-3 on aggregate at the last-four stage this year.

Georginio Wijnaldum scores against Barcelona at Anfield
Georginio Wijnaldum scores against Barcelona at Anfield (Peter Byrne/PA)

But Bartomeu told the club's website: "He is the coach we want, he is under contract and we are very happy with him.

"Planning for next season has been under way for some time. Some players have already been signed and we'll talk further after the Copa del Rey final.

"Our main objective is LaLiga and, after that, we want the Copa del Rey and the Champions League.

"We won LaLiga with some games in hand. We all want more.

"Now the Copa del Rey final is coming and we're coming off a painful loss.

"It's time to pick our heads up, to get excited and to get motivated to compete."

Barcelona face Valencia in the Copa del Rey final on May 25 as they look to win the competition for an unprecedented fifth straight year.

ga('create', 'UA-72310761-1', 'auto', {'name': 'pacontentapi'});
ga('pacontentapi.set', 'referrer', location.origin);
ga('pacontentapi.set', 'dimension1', 'By Press Association Sport staff');
ga('pacontentapi.set', 'dimension2', '5482c43f-1c8f-4b4d-bc07-dc8ac80fc7ce');
ga('pacontentapi.set', 'dimension3', 'paservice:sport,paservice:sport:football,paservice:sport:world');
ga('pacontentapi.set', 'dimension6', 'story');
ga('pacontentapi.set', 'dimension7', 'composite');
ga('pacontentapi.set', 'dimension8', null);
ga('pacontentapi.set', 'dimension9', 'sport:football');
ga('pacontentapi.send', 'pageview', { 'location': location.href, 'page': (location.pathname + location.search + location.hash), 'title': 'Valverde\u2019s job safe, insists Barcelona president Bartomeu'});

ID:359458: cacheID:359458:1false2false3false:QQ:: from db desktop :LenBod:restore:5761:
Restore Data
Share this article now:
Antoine Griezmann and associated hair in action for Atletico Madrid on April 24, 2019
Read Next:
PSG to battle Barcelona for Antoine Griezmann?
>
rhs 2.0
Today's games header
Tables header RHS
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Real Madrid32256170224881
2Barcelona32217464372770
3GironaGirona32215667402768
4Atletico MadridAtletico32194959382161
5Athletic Bilbao321610652302258
6Real Sociedad321312746341251
7Real BetisBetis32121284038248
8Valencia32138113534147
9Villarreal32119125155-442
10Getafe32913103844-640
11Osasuna32116153746-939
12Sevilla32910134145-437
13Las PalmasLas Palmas32107153039-937
14AlavesAlaves3298152838-1035
15Rayo Vallecano32713122739-1234
16Celta Vigo32710153747-1031
17Mallorca32613132638-1231
18CadizCadiz32413152245-2325
19Granada3239203361-2818
20Almeria32111203164-3314


Sports Mole provides in-depth previews and predictions for every match from the biggest leagues and competitions in world football.
Argentina's Lionel Messi kisses the World Cup trophy after collecting the Golden Ball award on December 18, 2022Sign up for our FREE daily preview newsletter direct to your inbox!