When Ernesto Valverde landed on the FC Barcelona bench in the summer of 2017, everything pointed to the fact that he was going to be able to count on the trident that raised the goals to another dimension. It treated of Leo Messi, Luis Suárez and Neymar. It was not so. The Txingurri was left without the magic of the Brazilian, who in one of the most chaotic summers in memory at the Camp Nou, left a check with the 222 million of his clause, packed his bags and headed for Paris. In his place came Ousmane Dembélé, an unbalanced winger who had never been injured at Borussia Dortmund. A rebellious footballer who forced the machine to arrive at the Camp Nou. A promising winger with high goalscoring aspirations that cost 105 million euros. It was the price that Bartomeu had to pay to try to face the difficult mission of making Neymar forget.
Ernesto Valverde returned to the Camp Nou yesterday. This time he occupied the visiting bench, where he received Xavi, who went to look for him with a smile. Valverde responded with a hug and without wanting to make any noise he took his place. Partly thankful that his name didn't sound over the PA system. Many things have changed. To begin with, the Athletic coach did not meet up with either Messi or Luis Suárez. Neither with the version of Dembélé that he left. He already would have liked it. “He is a world-class player. I wouldn't have minded if he rested”, admitted Txingurri, who couldn't avoid a timid gesture in his technical area when he saw Dembélé score his first headed goal with Barça. A target that meant 1-0 and the 4,000th goal for FC Barcelona at home in the League.
On the bench, Xavi Hernández and his coaching staff joked about Dembélé's header. In his area Ernesto Valverde seemed to remember how in his first year on the bench the French winger barely scored three goals in 17 games. The same ones he has worn this season in his eleven appearances in the League. A ruptured biceps femoris tendon in his left thigh in September 2017 was the start of an injury ordeal that marked Dembélé's two and a half seasons with Valverde. The coach was even a witness to how Bartomeu tried to get Neymar back. The Brazilian had regretted his departure and wanted to return. It was not given. And yesterday Dembélé enjoyed what was undoubtedly his great night.
Not only did he open the scoring. He was also an essential figure in the other three Barcelona goals. In each play he applied the necessary recipe to assist them. The first was for Sergi Roberto, author of the 2-0. Just four minutes later, the Frenchman overflowed again from the end and gave it to Lewandowski, who signed another great goal.
Xavi replaced him in the 77th minute. Earlier the Frenchman had given Ferran Torres one last goal assist. And the Camp Nou applauded him like never before. Xavi also congratulated him. The coach who a year ago, as soon as he landed on the bench, predicted that with a lot of work, Dembélé could be the best in his position."It's difficult to get words out of Dembélé in Spanish," Valverde used to say. Outside the field, the Frenchman has also worked on this aspect. Happy with his integration and with his fit into the team. he has a contract until 2024. And in the box at the Camp Nou they have already begun to talk about his possible renewal. The talks will start after the World Cup in Qatar.
