Coach Ernesto Valverde vows to carry on as Barca’s season fizzles out
Stinging from their humiliating loss to Liverpool in the Champions League semifinal, Barcelona were bidding for a fifth Copa del Ray Cup but defeat by Valencia raised doubts about coach’s future
Seville — Barcelona coach Ernesto Valverde believes he can continue in charge of the Spanish champions despite losing the Copa del Rey final 2-1 to Valencia on Saturday to complete a miserable end to the season. Stinging from their humiliating 4-0 loss to Liverpool in the Champions League semifinal second leg, Barca were bidding to win the Cup for the fifth year in a row but defeat by Valencia raised more doubts about Valverde’s future. “I feel good [to continue], I know that to lose at this club is tough for the coach because there is always that responsibility, and sometimes you make mistakes, but you have to face them and here I am,” Valverde told reporters. “A month ago we celebrated the La Liga title thinking about winning a treble and we’ve been knocked off that path at the decisive moment.” Barcelona had been hoping to add to their 2009 and 2015 trebles and after throwing away a 3-0 first-leg lead against Liverpool, the Cup final offered the chance to seal a ninth domestic do...
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