After 24 hours of rumors, Spain's champion announces end of coach's path • Stein, who coached Betis last season, will try to get the team back on track
Arsanto Valverde is out of his last training session at the Catalan club, tonight
Photo:
Notwithstanding
What was expected for a long time tonight became official. Barcelona announced the dismissal of coach Ernesto Valverde, and the appointment of Kika Stein. 58-year-old Stein signed a season-and-a-half contract. Now he will try to get the Catalan club back on track.
The straw that broke the camel's back in terms of Spanish champions management was a loss at a negligible factory like the Super Coupe, but the way the team lost after losing an advantage again (against Atletico Madrid) blocked the coach's path.
At first, the management wanted to appoint the club's past player, Chubbi Hernandez, but he preferred to come at the end of the season only, so his candidacy dropped. The name of Argentine coach Mauricio Pochettino, who was fired about a month and a half ago from Tavenham, also emerged as a candidate. Despite this, Barcelona eventually opted to go for Stein.
The new coach faces two major tasks. The first is to win the Champions League, a title that the team has not won since 2015. The second is to fight for the championship with Real Madrid. In addition, the team must find a striker, as Luis Suarez was analyzed and finished the season. And above all, the new coach will have to change the character of Barcelona and losers in knockout matches in the Champions League, referring to the loss value in Rome two years ago and Liverpool last season.