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Can Ernesto Valverde etch his name into the Barcelona history books?

By Chiranjib Ghosh

SEVILLE, SPAIN - MARCH 17: Ernesto Valverde, Manager of Barcelona looks on during the La Liga match between Real Betis Balompie and FC Barcelona at Estadio Benito Villamarin on March 17, 2019 in Seville, Spain. (Photo by Quality Sport Images/Getty Images)
SEVILLE, SPAIN - MARCH 17: Ernesto Valverde, Manager of Barcelona looks on during the La Liga match between Real Betis Balompie and FC Barcelona at Estadio Benito Villamarin on March 17, 2019 in Seville, Spain. (Photo by Quality Sport Images/Getty Images) /
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Barcelona head coach Ernesto Valverde has been astute this season

From some of his decisions this season, Ernesto Valverde has shown that is not the best manager that Barcelona have ever had. But under his stewardship, the team has played some very entertaining football with great results against top opposition.

After the ex-Culé took over from former Barça teammate Luis Enrique as head coach, Valverde made some very questionable signings, most notably that of Paulinho. The Brazil international was decent, but returned to Guangzhou Evergrande after a single season.

The Basque coach also implemented a 4-4-2 system, with Luis Suárez and Lionel Messi mostly isolated up front and a 4-man midfield trying to retain possession. It was a direct style of play, but the football was slightly boring.

It was effective, as Barça managed to seal the domestic double. But this season, all of that has changed. Ernesto Valverde has returned to the traditional 4-3-3 Barça formation with a revision of tiki-taka, and the addition of an extra winger has made the team more attacking.

The signing of Arturo Vidal for a bargain fee of €18 million has turned out to be a stroke of genius, with the Chilean box-to-box midfielder replacing Paulinho with ease. Malcom has been a utility player, while Clément Lenglet has been a revelation.

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But most importantly, Barça are getting the results, and with characteristic ease. Ernesto Valverde’s men have lost just 4 times this season, and have registered huge victories against top opposition, most notably the 5-1 annihilation of Real Madrid.

Currently, Barça are 10 points clear at the top of the La Liga table, with a mere 10 games to go and a home game against second-placed Atlético set to decide the title race. The team are also favourites to win a fifth consecutive Copa del Rey.

But the real test for Ernesto Valverde will be in the Champions League. Barça faced an ignominious exit last season at the hands of Roma in the quarter-final stage due to Valverde’s poor selection policy, which led to a tired first-team.

This season, Valverde has already shown that he is willing to break with his ‘one game at a time’ policy to accommodate competitions of greater prestige. Team management will be of the essence in the business end of the season.

Barça will be taking on a rejuvenated Manchester United under Ole Gunnar Solskjær in the quarter-final. If Valverde does manage to lead to lead the side to victory in this fixture, Barça will face either Liverpool or Porto, with the latter being more likely.

dark. Next. Barça would need a miracle not to win the treble this season

If Ernesto Valverde manages to overcome this challenge, he will surely etch his name into the history books at the Camp Nou. The head coach who leads the club to a ‘Treble of Trebles’ will surely be remembered as one of the all-time greats.