Ernesto Valverde insisted offering to resign as Barcelona coach had not crossed his mind after seeing his side bounce back from their Champions League nightmare with victory over Getafe on Sunday.
Barca were knocked out of Europe in sensational fashion on Tuesday night when Liverpool overturned a 3-0 first-leg deficit to win their semi-final 4-3 on aggregate.
That chastening defeat came after Barca were dumped out of last season’s Champions League in similar fashion by Roma, and questions have been raised about the long-term futures of Valverde and several senior players.
The coach is determined to fight on though, and when asked if he had considered stepping down he told reporters: “No, I haven’t thought about it.”
Valverde was speaking after Barca beat Getafe 2-0 at the Nou Camp in their final home match of the season.
Arturo Vidal’s first-half strike and a late own goal settled the contest as champions Barca moved 11 points clear at the top of LaLiga and regained some confidence ahead of the Copa del Rey final later this month.
Valverde said, as reported by the Spanish media: “It was really important for us to win today, to take a step forward.
“The game was a tricky one because they (Getafe) were playing for a place in the Champions League.
“We were OK at the start but as the game went on we got better and better and I think we did well in the second half.”
Philippe Coutinho suffered a hamstring injury in the victory and is expected to be sidelined for around 10 days.
That would rule the Brazil international, whose future at Barca is also the subject of speculation, out of the club’s last Liga match at Eibar next weekend but could see him fit for the Copa del Rey final against Valencia.
DISCLAIMER: The Views, Comments, Opinions, Contributions and Statements made by Readers and Contributors on this platform do not necessarily represent the views or policy of Multimedia Group Limited.
Latest Stories
-
Photos from DW-JoyNews street debate on ‘galamsey’
17 mins -
Mimmy Yeboah: Blending heritage with global sophistication, confidence redefined through couture
32 mins -
Akufo-Addo commissions 97-km Tema-Mpakadan railway line
60 mins -
Majority requests recall of Parliament
1 hour -
Kanzlsperger and Professor Quartey support WAFA with medical Donation
1 hour -
Gideon Boako donates 10 industrial sewing machines to Yamfo Technical Institute
2 hours -
‘Golden Boy’ Abdul Karim Razak honored at WAFU-B general assembly
2 hours -
Buipewura Jinapor secures Vice Presidential position in National House of Chiefs with record votes
2 hours -
2024 election: I want results to come out like ‘milk and honey’ – Toobu
2 hours -
Ghana’s Henry Bukari hands over chairmanship of ECOWAS Brown Card Council of Bureaux
2 hours -
Residents of Dome-Kwabenya on edge ahead of December elections
3 hours -
Moffy drops new single ‘Wo’, blending culture and modernity
3 hours -
Don’t bring soldiers to polling stations – Martin Kpebu
3 hours -
Ogyeahohuo Yaw Gyebi II retained as President of National House of Chiefs
3 hours -
Embrace ICT to fit in digital world – Ho NYA boss to youth
4 hours