Valverde Refuses To Quit Barca Despite Fans Protests

By Max Wise

Ernesto Valverde has sent a defiant message to Barcelona fans insisting that he will not step down as manager, despite capping an underwhelming end to the season with a 2-1 loss to Valencia in the Copa del Rey final on Saturday.

Barcelona, for the first time in four seasons, failed to win the Copa del Rey after goals from Kevin Gameiro and Rodrigo Moreno for Valencia rendered Lionel Messi’s 51st goal of the season a mere consolation.

Despite winning the Spanish league title for the second season in a row, Barcelona have seen their quest for a treble fall apart in the space of two weeks after they exited the Champions League at the semi-final stage at the hands of Liverpool.

Saturday’s result has seen Valverde bear the brunt of the Barcelona supporters but the former Athletic Bilbao manager is determined to stay put and soldier on.

"I feel good, but when you win, you are happier," Valverde said. "The reading of the game is different from the one we played 15 days ago, but the reality is that we have lost again.

"We have not fulfilled the expectations created. We thought about the treble and we lost ourselves on the road at the decisive moment. It is evident that we are here to win titles.

"I'm fine, what we – the coaches – want is a rematch, to fight to have a challenge ahead.

"I know that losing is hard, something has failed. This responsibility is difficult and it has to be assumed."