Valverde is preparing for Barcelona’s Champions League second-leg tie with Lyon at the Nou Camp tonight (8pm).
Barca and Lyon drew 0-0 in the first leg in France, with the Spanish giants favourites to join the likes of Manchester City and Juventus in the quarter-finals.
City thumped Schalke 7-0 and Juventus had Cristiano Ronaldo to thank for their 3-2 aggregate triumph over Atletico Madrid last night – as Valverde faced the media.
The Barca boss was asked about a number of hot topics including his thoughts on Zinedine Zidane – who this week returned to Real Madrid as manager.
“He’s a great manager, he’s going to a great club,” said Valverde.
“They’re going to be our rivals and I look forward to coaching against him.”
Valverde spent the 2017-18 season battling Zidane, coming out on top domestically by winning La Liga and the Copa del Rey but watching on as Zidane won his third successive Champions League trophy before resigning.
The 55-year-old was quizzed on Philippe Coutinho, who has struggled to meet expectations following his blockbuster move from Liverpool in January 2018.
Coutinho could eventually cost Barcelona £142million if various clauses are met.
The Brazilian has scored eight goals in 39 games for Barca this season, but has been linked with a move to Manchester United.
Valverde said: “How we handle our team internally is a private matter, between us.
“There are moments when you need to talk with the player and that are times when you don’t. We hope to see the best of him, of course.”
Lyon star Nabil Fekir – who saw a move to Liverpool as Coutinho’s replacement last summer collapse – missed the first leg against Barcelona but is back for the game this evening.
And Valverde is aware of his threat, saying: “He could make the difference because he’s a link-up player who supplies the attack.
“He’s decisive for Lyon – he’s got a good shot, he can shake off defenders, he’s good in one-on-one situations.
“He’s the player who makes them tick and so we have to keep an eye on him.”