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Monday, August 12, 2019, 17:13
Coach under pressure, but signings can help Barca's title defense
By Xinhua
Monday, August 12, 2019, 17:13 By Xinhua

FC Barcelona's Spanish head coach Ernesto Valverde attends the Rakuten Cup football match between Vissel Kobe and FC Barcelona, in Kobe on July 27, 2019. (KAZUHIRO NOGI / AFP)

MADRID - La Liga champions FC Barcelona go into the new campaign with perhaps more to prove than most sides that have won consecutive league titles, but such are the demands at the club, that coach Ernesto Valverde is under pressure as he goes into his third season in charge at the Camp Nou Stadium.

Normally a coach who has led a side to consecutive league titles and a domestic cup in two years would be a hero, but Valverde ended last season under a cloud after Barca's 4-0 defeat at Anfield ended their Champions League ambitions before Valencia beat them 2-1 to win last season's Copa del Rey.

Many expected Valverde to be shown the door over the summer, but he retained the support of club president Josep Maria Bartomeu and (perhaps more importantly) Leo Messi.

Many expected Valverde to be shown the door over the summer, but he retained the support of club president Josep Maria Bartomeu and (perhaps more importantly) Leo Messi

ALSO READ: Valverde pleased with Barca's summer signings to date

The Basque coach will be relatively content with the signings Barca have made to date over the summer with striker Antoine Griezmann arriving from Atletico Madrid, while midfielder Frenkie de Jong looks the perfect addition in central midfield and Junior Firpo should provide much-needed cover for Jordi Alba at left back.

Griezmann's arrival will mean Barca not only add goals to their squad, but Griezmann's work-rate means Valverde will be able to play him either as part of a front three with Leo Messi and Luis Suarez, or perhaps even on the left hand side of a three-man midfield (something he hasn't been keen to do with Philippe Coutinho).

Ousmane Dembele offers further alternatives in attack where Valverde appears to have an embarrassment of riches.

The fact Barca have Messi, Griezmann, Suarez, Dembele and Coutinho in their squad, hasn't stopped the club attempting to bring Brazilian striker Neymar, back to the club, although it is hard to see how Valverde could shoehorn all of that talent into the same team and not leave it unbalanced in midfield and defense.

Valverde will be keen to keep hold of Ivan Rakitic and Nelson Semedo, who have both been mentioned as forming part of any deal for Neymar, with Ivan Rakitic ever dependable in midfield and Nelson Semedo the only alternative to Sergio Roberto at right back.

De Jong's arrival should allow Valverde to rest midfielder Sergio Busquets more often and the 31-year-old will benefit from that in the second half of the season, while Arthur Melo should also build on his promising first campaign at the club to further extend Valverde's midfield options.

READ MORE: Barca president backs Valverde despite poor end to season

Barcelona's new French forward Antoine Griezmann (back center) poses with young Barcelona fans during his official presentation by the Spanish football club at the Camp Nou stadium in Barcelona on July 14, 2019. (LLUIS GENE / AFP)

Injury saw central defender Samuel Umtiti called into question last season, but the Frenchman has now recovered and should give an extra option in a defense alongside Gerard Pique and Clement Lenglet, while 19-year-old Jean-Clair Todibo looks promising as fourth choice center half.

And of course no article on Barcelona would be complete without mentioning Leo Messi: the best player in the world, who has resolved so many matches for Barca with a single moment of magic.

Barca may have some structural problems, Valverde needs a good start to the season and Neymar may or may not come before the end of the month, but if Messi is in the side it is impossible to write Barcelona off and once again their will start the season aiming for the treble.

Barcelona forward Lionel Messi addresses the crowd prior of the Joan Gamper trophy soccer match between FC Barcelona and Arsenal at the Camp Nou stadium in Barcelona, Spain, Aug 4, 2019. (JOAN MONFORT / AP PHOTO)

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