Barcelona manager, Ernesto Valverde is still in charge at the club despite their recent setbacks and has the backing by president Josep Maria Bartomeu as well as by the dressing room, however, Barcelona is preparing for the possibility that he himself might decide to leave.
Despite winning the La Liga title with a clear 11 and 19 points from second and third-placed Athletico Madrid and Real Madrid respectively, Barcelona did not have the best of the season even with a good gap as they geared up winning the title.
The Catalans were seen out of the Champions League in the semi-finals by Liverpool who was finalists last year against Real Madrid despite a 3-0 win at home which proved impossible for the Reds to overcome.
Their recent heartbreak which was a chance for them to get a double and wrap up the season systematically came over the weekend during the finals of the Copa del Rey against Valencia but were unlucky as they were struck twice in the first-half to lose to the side despite Messi getting a consolation goal in the 73rd minute.
The loss is said to have infuriated the manager and players and it is said the players were forced to hold an impromptu and crisis meeting right inside the club bus for close to an hour but what transpired remains scanty.
The manager according to the club’s administration is not to blame for the poor results that have been recorded thus the club is ready to keep him but should he step down, their main target is said to be Belgium’s national team manager, Roberto Martinez.
That’s according to RAC1, while Ronald Koeman and Erik Ten Hag are also thought to be candidates.
This, though, would only be in the event of the coach departing out of his own decision and not being compelled to by the club.
The manager regardless of all these do have backing at the club as Lionel Messi has shown his support for Valverde, doing so both before and after the defeat to Valencia in the Copa del Rey final.
The board have taken that on board and Messi has been joined by Gerard Pique and other heavyweights in the dressing room in showing their backing of the coach.
Bartomeu defended Valverde by insisting that the coach alone isn’t responsible for the shortcomings this year, and the president himself is keen for the former AthleticClub boss to stay put.