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
Salah, Origi strike to give Liverpool Champions League triumph An early Mohamed Salah penalty and a late strike by Divock Origi gave Liverpool a 2-0 win over Tottenham Hotspur in Saturday's all-English Champions League final as their coach Juergen Klopp finally got his hands on Europe's biggest prize.
Soccer: Salah, Origi goals hand Liverpool Champions League
AFC Wimbledon delivered an FA Cup fourth-round shock as the League One strugglers humbled Premier League West Ham United 4-2 in a gripping tie in south-west London on Saturday.
AFC Wimbledon humble West Ham in FA Cup shock - Football
Very good Kompany: City's captain marvel Vincent works with the homeless, is incredibly bright and even Manchester United admire him. Vincent Kompany, a leader of men, has come to define the new
Vincent Kompany to donate season of pay to homeless | Granada
Starting this blog has been an adventure. I have never been so intimately linked with a football club and its fortunes. There were certainly many ups and downs, thrills and spills. The Good. Gaining an understanding of the Club. Through my limited interaction with the Club's staff, i gained a minor insight about how running a football club works.
17 Aug, 2014 by DhakaTribune - Issuu
Just like in their last two outings, Klopp's team needed late goals from Mohamed Salah and Jordan Henderson to move two points clear of City, who still have a game in hand. "The performance was not top level but it is about fighting. People want us to play like Manchester City, we are unable to do that, we play our own football," said Klopp.
We do it our way, says Klopp after another late Liverpool win
en.rfi.fr/wire/20190405-we-do-it-our-way-says-klopp-after-another-late-liverpool-win
We do it our way, says Klopp after another late Liverpool win. ended his goal drought in Liverpool's 3-1 win over Southampton AFP. we are unable to do that, we play our own football," said
We do it our way, says Klopp after another late Liverpool win
Football: Sacked Puel says it was an 'honour' to manage
Jan 22, 2019 · Portuguese soccer star Cristiano Ronaldo was fined €18.8 million ($21.6 million) for tax fraud on Tuesday, Reuters reports. Specifically, prosecutors said, he dodged taxes in Spain between 2010
Ronaldo agrees to pay €19m fine to settle tax fraud case
Here, AFP Sports looks at five things we learnt from the Premier League's final fixtures of 2018. Liverpool's title to lose? The league leaders haven't lost all season and unless City end their
Five things we learned from the Premier League this weekend
Jason Momoa: 'It's Impossible' for Khal Drogo to Return for 'Game of Thrones' Final Season (Video) The eighth and final season of "Game of Thrones" will premiere in April 2019 on
GoT Schedule: How Many Game of Thrones Episodes Are Left
Soccer Football - Women's World Cup - Group E - Canada v Cameroon - Stade de La Mosson, Montpellier, France - June 10, 2019 Canada's Kadeisha Buchanan scores their first goal REUTERS/Eric Gaillard MONTPELLIER, France (Reuters) - Defender Kadeisha Buchanan scored on the stroke of halftime to hand Canada a winning start to the women's […]
Buchanan goal hands Canada slender 1-0 win over Cameroon
London (AFP) - Cardiff City captain Sol Bamba dedicated his goal and a 2-1 victory over Southampton to Emiliano Sala after an emotional match for the Welsh club. Saturday's fixtures were the first round of Premier League games since the player's death was confirmed earlier this week.
'Victory and goal for Sala', says Cardiff captain Bamba
May 02, 2019 · Chelsea are 90 minutes away from reaching the Europa League final after Pedro earned a 1-1 draw at Eintracht Frankfurt. Skip to main content.
Football: Chelsea draw 1-1 at Eintracht in Europa League semi
Sissoko unaware Tottenham had advanced after Sterling goal disallowed not realise his side had advanced to the Champions League semi-finals until a member of the coaching staff informed him in
Moussa Sissoko unaware Tottenham had advanced after Sterling
Beste Galerie von football raddy avramovic could make shock return to singapore as new home united coach - michelewilliamsphotography.com
Football: Deeney joy as 'special' Watford reach FA Cup final
0 komentar:
Posting Komentar