Ernesto Valverde: Barcelona coach considering future at club
Valverde has the backing of the Barcelona squad, but his relationship with the board could well drive him to the Camp Nou exit.
Fresh from winning his first trophy as Barcelona coach in emphatic fashion in Saturday's Copa del Rey final, and with the LaLiga title on the way, Ernesto Valverde is understood to be considering his position at the Camp Nou.
Domestic double win could lead Valverde to leave
Indeed, Valverde - who has a year left on his contract, with the option of a further 12 months - has privately admitted that he is thinking about leaving after just one season in charge if, as seems all but a certainty, Barça go on to do the double.
Board unhappy with Valverde over European exit
The 54-year-old's doubts have been brought about by the evident cracks in his relationship with a board who, on the eve of the Copa final, leaked to the newspaper Mundo Deportivo that the coach could be fired if the Blaugrana failed to beat Sevilla, and that his future was not assured even if they did.
Barça's directors are fuming with Valverde over this month's Champions League exit to Roma. They in particular feel that the team paid the price for a squad rotation policy focused too heavily on domestic commitments - despite the Catalans boasting a substantial cushion at the top of LaLiga - and not enough on Europe.
Players are behind the Barcelona coach
However, Valverde has the full support of a squad who want him to stay. The players are said to have been very unhappy about the board leaking their ultimatum to the press, and senior dressing-room figures have spoken to their coach to tell him that he has their backing.
A decision has not yet been made, but the possibility of Valverde departing is now real.
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