BARCELONA WILL NAME Luis Enrique’s successor on 29 May, club president Josep Maria Bartomeu has revealed.
Sunday’s thrilling 4-2 win over Eibar was Luis Enrique’s final Camp Nou game at the helm, with Barca surrendering the La Liga title to Real Madrid despite coming from 2-0 down.
He still has next weekend’s Copa del Rey final against Alaves to come, but it appears the next incumbent has already been lined up, with Athletic Bilbao coach Ernesto Valverde reported to be the one.
“On Monday 29 May we will announce the new coach,” Bartomeu told Barca TV .
“We thank Luis Enrique for the effort he has put in [and] the demands he placed on himself. The door is open. Now we have the Copa.”
Following in the footsteps of Andres Iniesta, Bartomeu congratulated Zinedine Zidane’s men on their success following a 2-0 triumph over Malaga.
“Obviously we congratulate the champions and our players for the season they have put in,” he said, before insisting Lionel Messi – whose two goals took him to 37 in the league this season – would remain at the club.
He added: “There’s no doubt that the marriage between Messi and Barca will continue.”
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I’m sure Sweden’s current strikers who got them there are delighted.
Just when you thought he couldn’t become more unlikeable,
Disrespectful to his fellow pros and arrogance beyond belief!
@Caoimhin O’Murchadha: We’re all just speculating. What’s the view in Sweden I wonder?
@Mike: No matter what way you look at it Mike he’s taking a seat on the plane that he didn’t earn, no Swedish player is going to call him out over it though because he has legendary status over there, he was a fantastic player for them over the years but this is unfair.
@Mike: Studying abroad and have met a lot of swedes and they would all welcome him back. He’s a hero in their eyes, the greatest ever swede.
@Caoimhin O’Murchadha: Any player in the squad earns their place. He’ll hardly be the only player to not feature regularly or at all in qualifying to be in a World Cup squad.
They’ve qualified purely down to the fact that he wasn’t there. They’re a team without him.
I’d never wish an injury on any sports player, but I wouldn’t be surprised if a few of the Swedish strikers might be getting a few voodoo dolls. Absolute awful behaviour from Zlatan and from the coaching staff if they allow him.
My guess he won’t be picked
Must be a slow news day. This article was first posted at 6.15pm yesterday and the article about Man United’s loss to West Brom was posted at 5.50pm yet these are the top 2 stories on 42 this morning having been re-posted. Bad journalism. You need to do better.