Express. Home of the Daily and Sunday Express.
Ernesto Valverde responds to Lionel Messi claims about leaving Barcelona
BARCELONA manager Ernesto Valverde insists he is not thinking about his future after Lionel Messi begged the club not to let him go.
Lionel Messi scores delightful chip for Barcelona against Eibar
Valverde is under pressure after they threw away a three-goal lead against Liverpool in the Champions League semi-final just a year after doing the same against Roma in the quarter-final.
Messi claimed he hoped his boss would not leave as Valverde will make it consecutive domestic doubles if they beat Valencia in tomorrow’s Copa del Rey final.
“I would like [Valverde] to continue,” the Argentine said.
“You may like it or not, but as we play this year we can win another double. But this is a very big spot.
“In these two years, two games were lost. It is true that they tainted us but beyond that, the rest was good.”
However, Valverde refused to be drawn on his star player’s comments and says he is not interested in the speculation surrounding his own future.
"I do not think too much about my future," he said.
"The only thing that worries me is to win [against Valencia]. Every day is a battle.
"If you look around the coaches in La Liga, we are part of the show.
“We all get ups and downs. You only have to see what happened to [Valencia coach] Marcelino, who had a moment, or [Real] Madrid changing coach.
"I do not know about Leo Messi defending me. We are all aware that, when there is an elimination, we must all take responsibility, the players, the coaches, all of us.
“We are hurt, but we have to look forward and face the consequences again.
"I do not feel any more pressure. Why would I?
“I’ve always said that the club respects my work and it's always been like that.
“I have no complaints from the president or the board."