Mr. Valverde returns to the Camp Nou

There was a time when Barcelona won the Leagues several days in advance, so many that they were hardly even celebrated, thinking of a big game trophy.

Thomas Osborne
Thomas Osborne
22 October 2022 Saturday 21:31
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Mr. Valverde returns to the Camp Nou

There was a time when Barcelona won the Leagues several days in advance, so many that they were hardly even celebrated, thinking of a big game trophy. Not so long ago that the Blaugrana were able to finish with 93 and 87 points in their locker. Such was the abundance at that stage that it clouded the analysis to the point of dismissing coaches who were the reigning champions or even leaders in the standings. He changed coach after one of his best games (lost) of his term.

That stage that seems so far away was that of Ernesto Valverde, whose departure partly summarizes the subsequent journey that the club has experienced. It can be said that Barcelona is still paying a penalty for underestimating the work of the Viandar de la Vera coach. His sin: being uncharismatic. Tonight, thirty-three months after his dismissal, Valverde returns to Can Barça at the helm of Athletic.

December 21, 2019 was the last time that the Txingurri sat down at the Camp Nou. He did it on the local bench to lead Barça in their 4-1 victory against Alavés. Three days earlier he could not go from 0-0 on the same stage against Madrid in a classic in which he was already criticized for his conservatism. Already in January, a draw in Cornellà against Espanyol and the defeat in the semifinal of the Super Cup against Atlético in Yida (2-3) that precipitated his dismissal.

Messi always defended him. Even after the elimination of Anfield, he endorsed the continuity of the coach. "He was not to blame for anything," said the Argentine. On January 13, 2020, Valverde left the sports city behind the wheel of his car. A half smile could be seen through the glass, as if a weight had been lifted from his shoulders.

Then came Setién and the 2-8, Koeman with Messi's goodbye, and now Xavi with the shadow of the Europa League again. No one has lifted the League and no one has even remotely approached the Champions League obsession.

Time puts everything in perspective and Barcelona understands that it did not go away completely fair with a Valverde who, without achieving excellence, won two Leagues, a Cup and a Super Cup in two and a half seasons at the club. “He seems like a piece of coach to me”, praised Xavi Hernández, who did not coincide with him.

"We highly value the coach Valverde. For me, he did an excellent job at Barça”, highlighted the current Barcelona coach. Txingurri's numbers were excellent, with only 16 defeats (11%) in 145 games. "Furthermore, without any stridency, polite, with an impeccable image", defined Xavi. "I hold you in high regard," he reiterated.

At 58 years old, and without training since 2020, with the arrival of Uriarte to Ibaigane he took the reins of Athletic for the third time in his career. So sooner or later he had to return to the Estadi. He does it without rancor or desire for revenge. “I'm in the mood to win but not because it's Barça but because it's the next game. In the end I go to a place where I have been and I know many people who helped me. I will greet them and then try to beat them”, he explained.

Nor does he want to think about the reception he will have from the public, which at the time did not value him enough. He does not reproach himself. "I don't have any special hunch. I have a good feeling about the time we were there. We won leagues with a lot of points and with a margin. In the Champions League we lost two games (what a blow: 3-0 in Rome and 4-0 in Anfield). I have a good memory. I can't get into people's heads but I'm satisfied with my work”.

On the opposite side, you will still find familiar faces despite the many market movements: Ter Stegen, Alba, Piqué, Araújo, Sergi Roberto, Busquets, De Jong, Dembélé and Ansu Fati whom he made his debut. "With the signings you see a powerful team to aspire to everything," he says about his former team.

If Xavi applauded Valverde's Athletic – "he is very intense and more offensive than with Marcelino" – Lezama also likes the work of the Egarense. “He knows Barça perfectly. He has been an extraordinary player. He knows that losses there always hurt. I see him well. When he seems to play worse he makes you 8 clear chances. When he plays well, he makes you 20”, he pointed out. Without resentment. Without noise. How is he. Like a gentleman. Like a little ant, he works. Barça is the one that has not yet been able to turn the page or win the League again.