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Ernesto Valverde has agreed to a one – year contract extension with Barcelona, putting an end to speculation that he could leave the club in the summer.
Valverde's new conditions will allow him to stay in charge of Barca next season. It also has the possibility of extending the agreement until the end of the 2020-2021 campaign.
"I'm really happy," he said. "I am grateful to the club for appreciating what I am doing, they have given me the chance to continue and I am delighted to extend my contract.
"The intentions of the clubs and coaches at the time of the contract are always the best." The ideal is to continue with the best intentions, but we know how football is, everything is dictated by the results. always an uncertainty and we know how fanciful the game we are involved in can be.
"I really feel comfortable working here, with the support of the board, I'm really comfortable with the team, with the players. point the club is great and it's a very exciting challenge for us to train here and work with these players.We have a lot of challenges to overcome, a lot of games to win and a lot of trophies on which we want to get in touch.
Doubts had increased in recent months as to the future of the coach. Addressing Barca TV at Christmas, Valverde said that he did not know what he would do next season.
Barca's president, Josep Maria Bartomeu, has repeatedly expressed his willingness to continue running Valverde. Last January, it was "certain" that the former director of Athletic Bilbao would be renewed.
Valverde, 55, had not been so open about his desire. Last week, he said at a press conference that he had nothing to say about his future. But Friday's renewal puts an end to the suggestion that he could act from his last six months at the helm of Barcelona.
Appointed as Luis Enrique's substitute in 2017, Valverde led the Barca to a double in cup and cup in his first season at the helm. The Catalans were on the verge of finishing the campaign in the league without being beaten, but then lost to Levante in his penultimate match.
The surprise defeat of the Champions League against Roma – where they suffered a setback after winning the first leg 4-1 – has left a mark on another successful season.
This season, Barca leads the league by six points and qualifies for the semi-finals of the Copa del Rey. They drew 1-1 with Real Madrid in the first leg. The return match was to take place at Bernabeu on 27 February.
Previously, the champions of Spain disputed the first leg of the 16th day of the Champions League against the Lyonnaise.
A successful campaign of the Champions League, sources said, told ESPN FC, was the key to Valverde's success. In this sense, the renewal arrived earlier than expected.
There are games in the coming race that are decisive, like the Copa del Rey match against Real Madrid, "said Valverde. We must also see how we do in the Champions League. [at Lyon]. We must be very careful, and I included the game of tomorrow in that. It is fundamental that we get three points. "
When asked if he feared Real Madrid, Valverde said no.
"Fear why? We still have the same rivals, Real Madrid, Atletico, Valencia … But we are not afraid at all, they are getting closer to us because we are leading."
Despite some concerns about his sometimes conservative approach to games, Valverde has the support of the team.
Both in private and in public, players like Ivan Rakitic and Gerard Pique have stated in recent weeks that they want Valverde to extend his contract with the club.
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