BARCELONA are set to sack Ernesto Valverde today, according to reports in Spain.
Mauricio Pochettino and Quique Setien have emerged as possible replacements after club legend Xavi rejected the chance to take over his former club midway through the season.
Ernesto Valverde has been in charge of Spanish giants Barcelona since 2017Credit: AP:Associated Press
Respected Barcelona-based daily Sport says “everything is pointing” to the immediate departure of the under-fire boss being decided at a board meeting this afternoon.
Club president Josep Maria Bartomeu is also considering putting Barcelona B manager Francisco Garcia Pimienta in charge on an interim basis until the summer when Xavi would take over.
Valverde is expected to meet with Bartomeu after a morning training session before an executive board meeting early this afternoon.
The club stepped up their efforts to replace Valverde following Barcelona’s defeat against Atletico de Madrid in the semi-finals of the Supercopa de España.
The Catalan giant’s arch-rivals Real Madrid ended up winning the competition on penalties on Sunday night.
Valverde’s side are still top of La Liga, but are only ahead of Zinedine Zidane’s side on goal difference.
Barcelona have allegedly made Pochettino their top target despite the ex-Spurs boss vowing to never work for them.
Pochettino played for and managed their rivals Espanyol and – in possible good news for Manchester United – said he therefore couldn’t manage Barca.
Valverde’s future was seriously called into question following Barcelona’s humiliating Champion League semi-final exit against Liverpool last season.
Former Barcelona legend Andres Iniesta, now playing in Japan, has described Valverde’s position as “very weakened”.
But he criticised the Catalan side for the “ugly” way in which they are seeking to replace him.
Barcelona’s Samuel Umtiti shows off his impressive ball control in training
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
