Ernesto Valverde - V1

[Luftstalag14]

I think Barca should rest almost every starter for the league match following the first leg of Roma

If they qualify they should also rest players the league game beforehand first leg of semi final. Using that strategy they should be able to compete well, unless players are injured

Our bench is pretty bad, with the exception of Cillessen. They will probably lose or draw every single game.

 

[Hamzah]

Going undefeated is not important, just ego. I'd rather lose a game and be ready for cl

 

[Luftstalag14]

The defense is good when the players are sharp and fit. They weren't. This is why rotations are important. Guy just doesn't understand this because he was never in a position to play 3 competitions this late in the season. In more ways than one, he's out of his depth. He was a small team manager before and this is showing with how he approaches every game the same way.

Look at Madrid's team vs Las Palmas. Zidane rested 5-6 starters. 2 midfielders (Isco and Kroos), 3 defenders (Ramos, Carvajal, Marcelo), 1 striker (Ronaldo). All played 2 games for the national team. Then look at Valverde and how he played every fit player available, and even risked Messi in the process.

I was complaining about this too when I saw the starting lineup. I had since given this more thoughts and if you look at our lineup today the only ones that should have been rested and were not rested were probably Pique and Iniesta and possibly Roberto. Alba could not be rested because Digne is injured, Rakitic could not be rested because Busquets is injured for example. Our squad is that thin, and our bench is pretty bad, unlike that of Real Madrid's, even when they are without Morata and James.

Valverde clearly wanted to be safe (as he always has been and always will be) and went for a win today.

 

[viper76]

Valverde: "We were exhausted today. Sevilla had a spectacular match but we come out with a good result. Towards the end of the game, we had to play very offensively because we had no other choice. It was dangerous."

 

[Luftstalag14]

Going undefeated is not important, just ego. I'd rather lose a game and be ready for cl

I totally agree, just saying the league is not totally safe yet for us.

Most likely 9 and 13 points ahead of the two madrid teams after tomorrow with still a few key games left.

 

[Stoichkov1]

I totally agree, just saying the league is not totally safe yet for us.

Most likely 9 and 13 points ahead of the two madrid teams after tomorrow with still a few key games left.

Come on, if we bottle the league it will be Atletico who will win it.

 

[Luftstalag14]

Come on, if we bottle the league it will be Atletico who will win it.

But still very bad for us if Atletico wins it and real doesn't. We need to win it. I don't disagree that we should rest key players for the CL at all.

 

[Stoichkov1]

But still very bad for us if Atletico wins it and real doesn't. We need to win it. I don't disagree that we should rest key players for the CL at all.

I'm one of the few people in this forum that think we shouldn't rest players in the league.

I've no idea why we should rest players when teams like City or Bayern who won the league in December and have more points than us over the second play the strongest XI every week.

 

[Luftstalag14]

I'm one of the few people in this forum that think we shouldn't rest players in the league.

I've no idea why we should rest players when teams like City or Bayern who won the league in December and have more points than us over the second play the strongest XI every week.

City and Bayern have deep and quality bench, should they experience injuries to their starters their bench will just fill in without a drop in their overall game performance. We are not like that, we need to make sure our starters will get enough rest before key CL games. Messi for example does wonders (not that he doesn't normally) when he is rested.

 

[Ursegor]

Not his fault Dembélé is black Deulofeu, Coutinho is not a midfielder and only has one trick up his sleeve and the rest of the team with Busquets and Messi not playing, bar Suarez, is nothing special.

 

[Stoichkov1]

City and Bayern have deep and quality bench, should they experience injuries to their starters their bench will just fill in without a drop in their overall game performance. We are not like that, we need to make sure our starters will get enough rest before key CL games. Messi for example does wonders (not that he doesn't normally) when he is rested.

Doubt it, City without Silva and De Bruyne looks like a completely different team.

They have a 16 points advantage, Pep could have rested De Bruyne this week and he still played him.

 

[Luftstalag14]

Doubt it, City without Silva and De Bruyne looks like a completely different team.

They have a 16 points advantage, Pep could have rested De Bruyne this week and he still played him.

Them not resting their starters doesn't mean we shouldn't.

 

[Stoichkov1]

Them not resting their starters doesn't mean we shouldn't.

I mean if Heynckes, Valverde and Guardiola don't want to rest players before CL matches there must be a reason behind it.

 

[Joan]

Not his fault Dembélé is black Deulofeu, Coutinho is not a midfielder and only has one trick up his sleeve and the rest of the team with Busquets and Messi not playing, bar Suarez, is nothing special.

Well, yes. Some things he did weren't logical nor right. But the truth is that the team has underperformed. Can't blame it all on the coach.

Dembele was horrendous, plain stupid game. Never able to receive the pass nor in a good position.

 

[serghei]

Dembele and Coutinho weren't even half as bad as Roberto, Umtiti, Pique, or Iniesta. During the first half hour Dembele was by far our best player, then he disappeared form the game, as the midfield totally collapsed and he barely had good balls to use, and the decent ones he did have he ended up losing by trying fancy stuff.

Roma game is very important. Win that convincingly and we're good. Domestic double and final 4 in CL is great.