Commentator of the championship of Spain on the channels Football1 / Football2 Kirill Krutorogov specially for Football. Ua shared his opinion on the new coach of Barcelona.
May 29, 2017 - the day when the whole world learned about the appointment of Ernesto Valverde as the head coach of Barcelona. He became only the ninth in the Catalan squad for the last thirty years (there were ten changes in this position - Louis van Gale got a chance twice). Mysticism, but from this list of four is no longer alive ... For comparison - Real for this period, 29 times castling on the bridge of coaching - 23 different experts tortured their own fortune in Madrid. From this it can be concluded that in Barcelona they are more cautious in choosing the right candidate, do not pursue trends (who is the best today - and invite), and try to become one, and also much more patiently towards their Chosen. But is the trusted mentor worthy of trust?.
During the playing career Valverde performed in Barcelona, ??which means that he was once considered the Chosen One. It turns out that he is familiar with the philosophy of the club and many internal nuances. But there is one BUT ... In 1988, Barca lured him from the neighboring Espanola, where he was in the lead roles, but to play and become the main player at the Camp Nou, forward Valverde could not. For two years he spent a little more than twenty matches, after which he moved to Athletic where he again found himself and became the leader. Roughly speaking, at the time of the player's being declared himself and getting caught in Barcelona, ??he failed. In doing so, do not forget that the Basque dressed in pomegranate-blue colors at the same time with the arrival of the coach Blaugranaas Johan Cruyff, who started a real revolution. It is rumored that the Dutchman appreciated the abilities of a short football player, in particular his tactical training. Evaluate, perhaps, and evaluated, but did not count as the lead singer.
Coaching career Valverde began at 37 when he was invited by Jupa Heinkes to enter his coaching staff at the helm of Athletic. In two years the German will go home, and Ernesto will take his place. In the debut season, he returned the team to the UEFA Cup after a six-year absence in European competition. Then twice in a row finished with her in the middle of the standings. But with Hispaniola he managed only once in his career to really jump above his head. "Parrots" under the leadership of Valverde reached the final of KUEFA, where, however, lost to Seville.
The best results were achieved by the Basque coach in Greece. Leading Olympiakos twice - the 2008-2009 season and from 2010 to 2012 - he won three championships out of three. But it's Greece and Olympiakos, who for 21 years only twice did not become a champion ... We will add here two Greek Cups. And also the Super Cup of Spain, already at the helm of Athletic, when the Lions, by the way, beat, it was Barcelona. All! - there are no more titles in the record of Valverde. He almost does not know how it is to be a triumphant. But what about the mentality of the winner and all that?.
In addition, Barcelona certainly wants to win back the European Cup. Especially when you consider how successfully in recent years, there are things going on the enemy's Real. Therefore this issue becomes even more important for the Catalans. But the new coach does not really represent what it is. He never worked at the top level. Yes, during his second coming, he brought Athletic to the group stage of the Champions League. Beautiful - defeating in the qualification of Napoli. Before that, for sixteen years, the Lions could only dream of such a thing. But in the Champions League he summarily spent only two seasons (both times his team finished third in the group) for the entire fourteen-year coaching career. Of course, some of his predecessors also could not boast of such. But Rijkaard won bronze for the Euro from the Dutch team, Martino - was a guest from Latin America, and even then it quickly became clear that his appointment was a mistake. A Guardiola, Villanova and Luis Enrique at the time of appointment, in fact, were in the beginning of his coaching career. Here - fourteen years of practice!.
If Barca aspires to perform regularly in the European League - then they turned to the address. Valverde was still a coach, able to keep the middle peasants at a stable level. Under his leadership, Villarreal, Valencia and Athletic made their way exactly in LE.
In addition, Valverde has no experience with large stars. Not on a local scale, like Aduritsa in Bilbao or Nikopolidis in Piraeus, and the guys of the triad of the MCH. Do not forget that, despite their external affability and a smile in reality, they are very likely very uneasy guys. Like any genius, in principle.
There is another interesting nuance. Only sclerotics will not remember that the candidacy of Valverde has emerged every time since "blaugranas" have been changed by coaches since 2008, when the search for Rijkaard's successor. But then was appointed Guardiola. Then Villanova. Martino. Luis Enrique. Why did the choice fall on him just now?.
Now, when the current season for the last four in Bilbao was the worst for Valverde. His team finished seventh (in 2015 it was similar, but then the season, to a greater extent, was devoted to the enjoyment of the long-awaited Champions League), and also very early flied both from the Cup of Spain and from the League of Europe. It seems that the leadership of Blaugranas and would be happy again, as before, to see in the shortlist of candidates Valverde, but to appoint someone else. But another option was simply not found, so returned to the one who could invite nine, five, four and three years ago. Somewhat paradoxically, frankly.
Yes, many people note Ernesto's ability to work with a limited human resource, as was the case in Athletic. Okay, but do they really have a very limited time in Barcelona? Transfer bans have safely stayed in the past. It seems, on the contrary, it is more logical for Catalans to invite an authoritative entertainer capable of building anew a star team of stars and stars that gathered there.
Concerning quality work with youth. Ostensibly at Valverde it turned out well for Athletic, and he can continue to do it in Catalonia, which for a long time nobody succeeded. However, at Valverde in Bilbao really opened and came out of the ignorance of Inaki Williams, already now ready for the transition to the top level. The rest either started at Bielsa, or, for all their talent, they still do not reach the higher stage.
Of course, Valverde is a very strong coach, with a lot of high skills.
But is it precisely these best characteristics that Barcelona needs today? On the other hand, such fears and doubts are normal. Everything new - scary. Before Barca, he was not on top of a football sky or at least on top of the famous Catalan mountain of Tibidabo. Does the Basque match it - time will tell. Moreover, the nearest. Nevertheless, the Catalans are used to not chasing trends, but creating them. Perhaps, in the end, Ernesto Valverde will become the legendary Revolutionary in Catalonia, as his once famous namesake in Cuba.