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#2 Ernesto Valverde's managerial ability
Valverde's tactics were a bit of a concern last season, as Barcelona encountered a thrashing defeat to Roma in the quarterfinals of the UEFA Champions League, even after winning the first leg with a 3 goal lead.
This led to various calls on Valverde's tactics and man-management skills, with several Cules wanting him to be sacked. However, Bartomeu kept his cool and did not panic. He instead stood with the manager and supported him to make more signings and execute his plans on the team.
Valverde prefers to play 'safe' football. One can claim that Barcelona's attacking abilities have been impaired under Valverde, but let us not ignore the fact that the side looks better defensively now when compared to past seasons.
The second leg against Roma was a devastating night for the Catalans, and Valverde's intentions were clear from the start of the game. He started Sergi Roberto in place of Dembele, and this was a defensive move which ultimately backfired.
Though Valverde won a domestic double in his very first season with the Catalan giants, it remains to be seen how well his side performs in the Champions League.
The team's performance totally depends upon the manager's vision and decision making. Anything less than a Champions League title will be considered average.
