Superstar Lionel Messi put his hands in front of his face, coach Ernesto Valverde searched in vain for explanations: Two and a half weeks after Anfield’s shock, FC Barcelona have frivolously lost a conciliatory end to the season. The Catalans missed out on their fifth consecutive cup win with a surprising 2-1 (2-0) defeat to FC Valencia. Calls for pagination become louder.
“Barca needs change,” wrote the newspaper Mundo Deportivo, while Sport opened the search for a culprit for the missed end of the season.
President Josep Maria Bartomeu defended Valverde: “He has a contract, he is Barca’s coach and not the culprit of defeat.”
For Bartomeu it was a “good season” despite the bitter defeat, but not an “excellent one”. The club spoiled for success must be content with the championship.
On 7 May, Barcelona had already gambled away their guaranteed entry into the final of the Champions League against Jürgen Klopp’s team despite a 3-0 lead from the first leg in Liverpool.
But Valverde saw no reason for the defeat in the Cup final in the still prevailing frustration. “We didn’t lose because of psychological problems,” said the 55-year-old, who wants to attack again in the new season.
Before the match, Messi had strengthened his coach’s back at a press conference: “He did a great job all the time,” said the superstar.
The favourites had a weak start against Valencia. Without German national goalkeeper Marc-Andre ter Stegen, Kevin Gameiro (21) and Rodrigo (33) scored the goals of Valencia at the Estadio Benito Villamarin in Seville, which raised the Spanish Cup for the first time since 2008.
For the team from the port city, it is the eighth overall cup success. Superstar Lionel Messi (73.) only scored the following goal.
By the time the second goal was scored, the champions had not yet scored a goal. After the break, the Valverde team became stronger, the Messi Gate provided once more excitement. But in the end there was again frustration in the Barca environment.
