MX23RW : Tuesday, February 19 21:18:49

Valverde knows he needs to deliver more trophies after signing new deal at Barca

Valverde knows he needs to deliver more trophies after signing new deal at Barca
© Reuters
Barca are six points clear at the top of LaLiga.

Barcelona coach Ernesto Valverde has admitted he will need to bring more silverware to the club in order to see out the new contract he signed on Friday.

Valverde has committed his future to the club for another season with an option for a further year, which would take him to four years in charge if he remains until the summer of 2021.

Barca go into Saturday's game against Real Valladolid leading rivals Real Madrid by six points in LaLiga with 15 games to go, and Valverde knows his new deal does not reduce the pressure to keep delivering trophies.

"Intentions are always for the best but we know what football is like," he said. "The results matter. Everything is uncertain. I understand that the club sees the results and trusts more will arrive with me.

"When we talk about the (contract length) it is because you've done well or you're expected to do well. In any club it's because things have gone well. In order to get to four years we are obliged to win, to collect titles.

"It's the only way to be able to continue, I am clear about that."

Victory over Valladolid would be a welcome way to celebrate Valverde's new contract, particularly given Barca have drawn their last two league games to lose momentum at a time when the Champions League round of 16 clash with Lyon and the Copa del Rey semi-final second leg against Real Madrid are looming.

"We have started an important sequence of matches," he said. "We haven't forgotten we have drawn the last two games in the league, so now we have four important matches which can be the decisive part of our season."

Valladolid travel to the Nou Camp just three points above the relegation zone. While few will give them much hope of taking anything from the game, coach Sergio Gonzalez has told his players to approach the game like they would any other.

"We follow the same methodology, the same planning with the same desire as in other games, even knowing the circumstances and their importance," he said. "We want to play a good game even if we know its difficulty."

Gonzalez joked that he would be happy to see Valverde make wholesale changes to his side given the run of fixtures Barca have on the horizon.

"I hope Ernesto Valverde decides to rotate, though we must prepare to face his best players," he said.

"When I was a player I wanted to face the best, but as a coach I would prefer it if they rested (Lionel) Messi."

He seems unlikely to get his wish given Barcelona will be keen to keep Madrid and everybody else at arm's length.

"We have had the usual competitors," Valverde said. "Real Madrid, Atletico, Valencia, Sevilla...We are not afraid to go first."


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TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Manchester CityMan City27212474205465
2Liverpool26205159154465
3Tottenham HotspurSpurs26200654252960
4Manchester UnitedMan Utd26156552351751
5Arsenal26155653371650
6Chelsea26155645291650
7Wolverhampton WanderersWolves2611693433139
8Watford2610793434037
9Everton2796123639-333
10West Ham UnitedWest Ham2696113239-733
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12Leicester CityLeicester2695123134-332
13Crystal Palace2676132734-727
14Brighton & Hove AlbionBrighton2676132839-1127
15Burnley2676132947-1827
16Newcastle UnitedNewcastle2667132234-1225
17Cardiff CityCardiff2674152447-2325
18Southampton2659122844-1624
19Fulham2645172558-3317
20Huddersfield TownHuddersfield2625191448-3411

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