BARCELONA legend Andres Iniesta has slammed the Spanish giants for their treatment of under-fire manager Ernesto Valverde.
Valverde has been left clinging to his job after a host of less than convincing displays, despite leading his squad to the top of La Liga.
Barca boss Valverde is said to be angered by the public pursuit of Xavi to replace him as manager.Credit: AP:Associated Press
A title win last season has not been enough to keep players and fans satisfied at the Nou Camp.
They suffered a shock Champions League exit to Liverpool as well as losing in the Copa Del Rey final against Valencia.
Since then Lionel Messi and Luis Suarez have been pivotal in keeping Barca at the top of the table, but overall performances have been anything but spectacular.
Their away form has been poor with losses to Athletic Bilbao, Granada and Levante , while there has also been a string of draws.
Iniesta has admitted that Valverde’s not in a great position, but believes he has been treated badly.
He told Spanish radio station Onda Cero: ”What comes to my mind a little, if all this is so, is that the ways or how everything is being done is a bit ugly.
”I believe that respect for the coach that you have must always exist.
”In the end it is these ways that can hurt the most. The situation of the coach is very weakened.”
Valverde is understandably said to be angered by Barcelona’s semi-public pursuit of Xavi as his replacement.
It came after a goalless draw with Real in the pre-Christmas Clasico, followed by another setback in the Super Cup semi-final on Thursday when they lost 3-2 to Atletico Madrid.
Xavi, who was approached to take over, initially considered the offer, only to have backtracked shortly after.
For now, he has made the decision to remain as manager of Qatari team Al-Saad.
With Xavi ruled out for the time being, there is interest coming from elsewhere in the form of former Tottenham boss Mauricio Pochettino.
The Argentine has however said in the past that he would never coach Barca.
In 2018 he insisted: ”I’m never going to be coach of Barcelona or Arsenal because I’m very linked with Espanyol and to Tottenham”.
Poch, 47, had two spells at the Catalan club as a player and made more than 250 appearances before later taking over as manager from 2009 to 2012.
But would Poch really turn down an opportunity to coach Barcelona and Messi?
According to reports in Spain, Barcelona are set to sack Valverde today.
As well as Pochettino, Quique Setien is also a possible replacement.
The 55-year-old is set to meet with club president Josep Maria Bartomeu this afternoon.
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Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
