Barcelona: Ernesto Valverde extension is poor timing

The Barcelona board has opted to extend Ernesto Valverde’s contract for another season.

Barcelona are still competing on three fronts as the season enters the latter stages including a healthy six-point lead in the league, although they could only draw 1-1 with Real Madrid at home in the first leg of the Copa del Rey semi-finals. Therefore, the season is on track, but there are high expectations at Barcelona so they can’t afford any slip-ups.

Ernesto Valverde’s future has been uncertain all season as this was the last year on his contract, however, the board have decided to address this by handing him a one-year extension, with the option for another, halfway through the season. This move was clearly intended to remove any doubts about his future for the squad as well as allowing Valverde to focus on the future rather than looking at the short-term.

The board has been caught between two decisions by deciding to do this now as they could have done this at the start of the season to bring stability or they could have waited until the end and based the decision on the results. Making this decision at this point of the season doesn’t bring the benefits of either. Regardless of whether he is the right choice to lead them forwards, it would have been wiser to wait until the end of the season as Valverde and the squad appear content.

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A poor end to the season also leaves the board with the tough predicament of whether to sack him, which would be costly, or keep him on to see out his contract. His first season was overshadowed by the Roma humiliation, but he brought stability to a club in crisis after Neymar’s departure as well as winning the double and nearly managed an unbeaten league season. However, his rigid approach and natural pragmatism will only take the club so far and they need someone more closely aligned with the club’s philosophy.

Carles Alena is the only La Masia youngster who has really progressed into the first team during his tenure, which is a disappointment. Injuries played a part, but he handled Ousmane Dembele’s first season poorly as he was unwilling to trust him and this ultimately cost Barca against Roma when he would have been ideal option to start or be used as a substitute. The same issues have been prevalent in Malcom’s debut season, although it’s rumoured that Valverde didn’t want him in the first place. He has also been unable to bring the best out of Philippe Coutinho.

There is no doubt that Valverde is a talented coach, but someone more progressive-minded would be a better fit in bringing the best out of the creative players as well as a young press-resistant midfield including players such as Frenkie de Jong, Arthur Melo and Riqui Puig. His trust of Arthur in his debut season has been encouraging — the Brazilian is a perfect fit for the midfield due to his skill set, though. The board should have been bolder with their decision-making as they have a hugely talented squad at their disposal.