Ernesto Valverde: The only way I’ll last four years at Barcelona is by winning titles

Valverde has penned a one-year extension at the Camp Nou.
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Ben Hayward15 February 2019

Barcelona boss Ernesto Valverde says that renewing his contract with the Catalan club was “not a difficult decision to make”, but admits he will need to win trophies in order to stay for four seasons at Camp Nou.

Valverde put pen to paper on a new deal on Friday morning which will see him stay at Barcelona for one more season, with the option of another after that.

“I have said before that the connection with the club was good and everything has been natural,” he said in his pre-match press conference ahead of the game against Valladolid on Saturday.

“The club put it to me some time ago. We gave each other some time. There is good harmony with the group as well and the decision was not a difficult one for me.”

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Asked what would happen if he did not win anything this season, Valverde said: “The idea is that they place their confidence in you to achieve results, but we know that the results rule. If we don’t win anything? Let’s see what happens…”

Former coach Pep Guardiola enjoyed huge success at Barca, but admitted after his fourth and final season that he had probably stayed too long, while Luis Enrique left after three and took a break.

If Valverde takes up the extension option, he will end up being at the club for four seasons, but admitted: “The only way of finishing the four seasons will be by winning trophies.

“We have a sequence of decisive matches coming up: the second leg of the Copa del Rey (against Real Madrid), the first leg of the Champions League (versus Lyon) and also tomorrow’s game, because we have drawn our last two in the league and that’s the next one.”

Asked whether defender Samuel Umtiti could return soon following a long layoff with a knee problem, Valverde said: “We have time to assess before Lyon (on Tuesday) and decide. He hasn’t played much and we have decisive games ahead, but he is important and he has to be playing. We will wait and see.”

January arrival Jean-Clair Todibo is unlikely to feature just yet, though.

“He is training with us,” Valverde said. “But we haven’t been able to play him in a competitive game or a friendly yet. I have a good impression of him: he’s powerful, strikes the ball well, he’s young… but we have to see him in a competitive situation.”

Valverde was also asked to give his opinion on summer signing Frenkie de Jong, who impressed in the Champions League against Real Madrid on Wednesday.

“De Jong is committed with his play,” he said. “He likes having the ball and assumes responsibility, he takes on players…”

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