Barcelona’s manager Ernesto Valverde has vowed to continue at the helms despite Saturday’s Copa del Rey final defeat to Valencia.
The Catalan giants lost 2-1 to Valencia at the Benito Villamarin in Seville, with Kevin Gameiro and Rodrigo Moreno netting in the first half to render Lionel Messi’s tap-in after the break immaterial.
The defeat means Barca ended the season with only the league title to their name, despite appearing to have a strong chance of winning the treble just a few weeks ago.
A shock Champions League elimination at the hands of Liverpool, a tie in which they won the first leg 3-0, saw the discontent from fans towards Valverde increase significantly and that situation is unlikely to improve after Barca failed to clinch an unprecedented fifth successive Copa del Rey crown.
Nevertheless, with president Josep Maria Bartomeu indicating Valverde is safe from the axe, the coach appears relaxed about his future.
“I feel good, but when you win, you are happier,” Valverde said after the game. “The reading of the game is different from the one we played 15 days ago, but the reality is that we have lost again.
“We have not fulfilled the expectations created. We thought about the treble and we lost ourselves on the road at the decisive moment. It is evident that we are here to win titles.
“I’m fine, what we – the coaches – want is a rematch, to fight to have a challenge ahead.
“I know that losing is hard, something has failed. This responsibility is difficult and it has to be assumed.”
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