Josep Maria Bartomeu: 'Ernesto Valverde job not under threat'

By Daniel Lewis, Senior Reporter | 27 April 2018

Bartomeu: 'Valverde job not under threat'

Barcelona president Josep Maria Bartomeu stresses that "no-one on the board has doubted" Ernesto Valverde, amid recent reports that he is close to leaving Camp Nou.

Barcelona president Josep Maria Bartomeu has given his public backing to Ernesto Valverde by insisting that the manager's job has never been under threat.

Reports emerged in the Spanish press earlier this week suggesting that the 54-year-old will consider quitting Camp Nou in the summer following pressure from the club's board.

A shock defeat to Roma in the Champions League quarter-finals earlier this month led to talk that Valverde would soon be replaced, despite only taking over at the start of the season, but Bartomeu has stressed that those rumours are incorrect.

"That is false," he told Cadena Ser. "He has two years on his contract and this is his project. We are very happy with him and I speak regularly with him.

"After what he has done since the summer, no-one can doubt Valverde. The Roma thing was bad for everyone but no-one on the board has doubted Valverde at any moment."

Valverde has already won the Copa del Rey in his maiden campaign at Barca and could add the La Liga crown to his collection in the coming days.