Ernesto Valverde
Manchester United sound out Ernesto Valverde
The Red Devils have started discussions with Ernesto Valverde over the vacant managerial post. Manchester United’s search for a new manager has led them to Valverde who is currently unemployed and waiting for the right opportunity to present itself. According to Goal, the Red Devils have drawn up a long list of targets who can manage the club on an interim basis for the remainder of the current campaign. Among those touted, is former Barcelona manager who has been out of a job since the start of 2021. The Basque native is reportedly eager to come onboard and believes that he can help the club get back to winning ways. While Manchester United still prefer to bring in long-term target Mauricio Pochettino, there’s an understand among the club’s hierarchy that prizing away the Argentine tactic...
IFFHS: Diego Simeone the best club coach of the decade
Diego Simeone’s consistency at Atletico Madrid has been rewarded. The International Federation of Football and History Stats (IFFHS) have put the Argentine ahead of managers like Pep Guardiola and Jurgen Klopp. This will be talked about for a while. The IFFHS have voted Cholo Simeone as the best coach of the latest decade (2011-20). Ahead of Pep Guardiola (Man City) and Champions League winners like Jurgen Klopp (Liverpool) and Zinedine Zidane (Real Madrid), who win three straight Champions Leagues, the IFFHS have gone for the Argentine’s consistency. After arriving at Atletico in 2011, he took a struggling Atleti to Champions League regulars. He has won 203 matches, drawn 118 and lost 82, as well as seven titles. A La Liga title, a Copa del Rey, two Europa Leagues, two UEFA Super Cups and...
Quique Setien: Barcelona yet to inform me of sack
Former Barcelona coach Quique Setien claims the Catalans have not compensated him for his early dismissal, or even called to inform of his contract termination three months on. Setien replaced Ernesto Valverde in January signing on a contract until 2022 as the club hoped to reconnect with their philosophy of exciting, possession-based football. However, Setien’s time at Barça was marred with problems, from an apparently strained relationship with talisman Lionel Messi that reportedly spread to other members of the squad, to underwhelming results and performances on the pitch. The culmination of numerous issues at the club was the 8-2 humiliation by Bayern Munich in the Champions League quarter-final. The embarrassing result contributed to Messi’s desire to leave and effectively spelled the...
Barcelona’s domestic woes continue with Alaves 1-1 draw
Antoine Griezmann helped to salvage a point for Barcelona as their struggles in La Liga continued with another disappointing result; a 1-1 away draw against 10-man Deportivo Alaves on Saturday. The visitors, who had lost their prior two league matches, were behind in the first half after a goalkeeping blunder by Neto allowed Luis Rioja to open the scoring. Barca actually started the match brightly. Their gifted youngster Ansu Fati raced clear of the Alaves defence early on but could only strike his effort wide. However, the visiting defence appeared to lack confidence and looked vulnerable on the counter. Alaves left midfielder Luis Rioja tried to exploit this but brought a smart save out of Barca keeper Neto after fine play by Brazilian centre forward Deyverson. It was from another such A...
Antoine Griezmann ‘a caricature of himself’ in toxic Barcelona environment – former coach
Antoine Griezmann has become “a caricature of himself” at Barcelona, where his former Real Sociedad boss, Martin Lasarte, feels a toxic environment is taking its toll. Quique Setien has named Griezmann on the bench for three of Barca’s past four games, including important meetings with top-four hopefuls Sevilla and Atletico Madrid. The World Cup winner was not sent on until the 90th minute against Atletico on Tuesday, with Ansu Fati introduced ahead of him in the 2-2 draw at Camp Nou. Barca will fall four points behind Real Madrid with five games remaining if La Liga’s leaders beat Getafe on Thursday, with reports suggesting Setien has lost the backing of his players. Martin Lasarte, who handed Griezmann his professional debut as an 18-year-old in the Segunda Division with La Real, believe...
