The good, the bad, and the disastrous - Evaluating Valverde's Barça tenure

Barcelona have sacked a manager mid-season for the first time since getting rid of Louis van Gaal in 2003, with Quique Setién replacing Ernesto Valverde in the Camp Nou dugout.  The decision came after the Super Cup semi final defeat to Atletico Madrid, and following failed attempts to bring in legendary former player Xavi Hernández back to Catalonia, the ex Real Betis boss Quique Setién was the man chosen to lead the blaugrana for the next two-and-a-half years. So, how do we evaluate Valverde’s time at Barça, and what does the future look like? The former Athletic Bilbao boss spent two and a half seasons at the helm at Barcelona, winning two league titles and one Copa del Rey. However, he was criticized for his style of play almost constantly throughout his tenure, as he employed a more cautious, rigid game, deemed unacceptable for many culés. / Cillian Shields

Cillian Shields

First published: January 14, 2020 06:57 PM