SEVILLE • Barcelona coach Ernesto Valverde has rejected the suggestion that their shock 2-1 defeat by Valencia in the King's Cup final was the result of lingering psychological scars from their Champions League humiliation at the hands of Liverpool.
A month ago, things were going swimmingly for the Catalan giants. They had wrapped up the LaLiga title with three games to spare and there were genuine hopes of a first treble success since 2015.
But the Reds' remarkable four-goal turnaround in the second leg of their Champions League semi-final has soured their league triumph and that hangover extended to Sunday, with Barcelona blowing the chance to seal a ninth domestic double and their fifth consecutive Cup.
Admitting that his players "had been knocked off that (treble) path at the decisive moment", Valverde said: "We have lost, but not because of a psychological issue.
"It's different from the game (at Anfield) we played a fortnight ago, but we've lost again, that is reality, the feeling.
"We have not been able to fulfil our own expectations, we celebrated the league title, we thought we could make a treble.
"You're left with a bad feeling because we created that expectation and it has not been like that. We're here to win titles and not for anything else."
However, Valverde insisted he was still the best man for the job, claiming he still "felt good".
Club president Josep Maria Bartomeu also backed Valverde, who has a year left on his deal, to see out his final season at the Nou Camp, saying: "He's the coach. This defeat is not the manager's fault.
"We had a lot of chances, but the ball wouldn't go in. Sometimes, you have all the shots, but what counts is scoring goals.
"I wouldn't say the season's been a failure, but it's not been excellent either. Each year, we want to get to the run-in with the best chance of winning everything and in the end, we've lost two games, Anfield and here, and missed out on two titles."
However, the home faithful are no longer buying their excuses, with the #ValverdeOut campaign trending on social media and fans calling for his immediate sacking.
Gerard Pique also conceded in the aftermath that "the other decisions aren't in our hands". The defender told Catalan daily Sport: "It's always a good year when you win LaLiga, but the expectation was to have an even better year and that's not been the case.
"The season ends with a bittersweet feeling, because it could have been better. We're not worrying about the manager's future, we all have to analyse ourselves and try and improve."
AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE, REUTERS
'Massive' victory gives Pochettino renewed belief. The Spurs manager admitted it was vital for his team to start the new year with a bang and record a "massive" victory at Cardiff that
Latest TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR | The Straits Times
History made as first all-female referee team to officiate men's AFC Cup clash The AFC Cup match between Myanmar's Yangon United and Cambodia's Naga World at the Thuwunna Stadium will witness this
History made as women to referee men's AFC Cup | Greater Kashmir
Football: Japan's Maya Yoshida warns young teammates
sportstons.com/soccer/football-japans-maya-yoshida-warns-young-teammates-pressure-comes-with-the-territory/
Football: Japan's Maya Yoshida warns young teammates - pressure comes with the territory TOKYO (REUTERS) - Japan captain Maya Yoshida warned his young teammates that they will need to handle the pressure that comes with being Asian Cup favourites as the four-time winners prepare to open their campaign against Turkmenistan on Wednesday (Jan 9).
Football: Japan's Maya Yoshida warns young teammates
Bangladesh has arrested a senior FIFA official for allegedly defaming the country's Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.. Mahfuza Akhter, a FIFA council member since 2017 and national chief of women's football, had told in a TV talk show last month that Prime Minister Hasina had neglected football in the cricket-mad country.
Bangladesh Detains FIFA official for 'defaming' PM Hasina
Sports Champions League: Leroy Sané haunts Schalke as City stage late comeback. Two late goals have handed Manchester City a 3-2 win over Schalke in the Champions League Round of 16.
Barcelona forward Lionel Messi has said he considers himself and Juventus forward Cristiano Ronaldo to be on a different level to the rest of the players in the world. Messi was asked about who he
Top 10 Most Expensive Football Players in the World 2019
Football: Shiotani fires Japan past Uzbeks, Qatar's Ali downs Saudis (From left) Tsukasa Shiotani, Yoshinori Muto, Sei Muroya and Toshihiro Aoyama celebrate Japan's win. PHOTO: AFP
Asian Cup: Tsukasa Shiotani fires Japan past Uzbekistan
Liverpool extend lead at top, Arsenal slip up at West Ham There was no such slip up from Liverpool though, even if Brighton did not make it easy for the league leaders. having mustered
Premier League: Jurgen Klopp Points To Injuries As Lacklustre
Manchester City could be hit with a transfer ban - report A transfer ban for the Premier League champions would come less than a month after Chelsea were hit with the same sanction.
Man City could get transfer ban: report - theworldnews.net
Hazard late show rescues Chelsea in Wolves draw Posted on March 10, 2019 by yasir kaneria in Football , Sports Sarri's side were seconds away from another damaging defeat after Raul Jimenez put Wolves ahead at Stamford Bridge.
Eden Hazard late show rescues Chelsea in Wolves draw
Liverpool could match Arsenal's Invincibles by going through a Premier League season without defeat, according to Unai Emery. Jurgen Klopp's side reached the halfway stage of the campaign with a 4-0 Boxing Day defeat of Newcastle United at Anfield, a result that moved the Reds six points clear at the top of the table.
Jurgen Klopp's Liverpool can be the new 'Invincibles', says
Crystal Palace star banned for referee sarcastic clap. Crystal Palace star Wilfried Zaha has been given a one-match ban by the Football Association for improper conduct after sarcastically
FA bans Palace's Zaha for referee sarcastic clap - Punch
0 comments:
Post a Comment