Valverde proves (again) that the Champions League is too big for him

The blame for Barcelona’s absolute capitulation in a 4-0 loss to a depleted Liverpool at Anfield falls squarely on Ernesto Valverde’s shoulders.

Liverpool’s miraculous Champions League semi-final comeback was nothing short of spectacular, but Ernesto Valverde’s Barcelona proved they did not have the stomach to win Europe’s premier club competition as they surrendered a three-goal first leg advantage.

The contrast in the two sides’ mentality was stark; with a 3-0 first leg victory in an all-time performance from Lionel Messi, Barcelona entered the second leg with a sneering arrogance characterized by star striker and former Liverpool sensation Luis Suárez joking down the tunnel before putting on a comical display of simulation on the pitch.

Liverpool, on the other hand, appeared dead in the water with Mohamed Salah and Roberto Firmino missing the return fixture, but Jürgen Klopp’s men had an aura of self-belief that sparked one of the greatest European comebacks of recent memory. The Reds came out flying, immediately applying pressure to a degree that the Blaugrana were not prepared for before Divock Origi turned in the early goal they so desperately needed.

From that moment on, Barcelona teetered and wobbled on the brink of a second consecutive European disaster away from the Nou Camp following last season’s shock elimination at the hands of Roma after a 4-1 first-leg victory in the quarterfinal.

Heading into the break, despite Liverpool’s dominance, they still held just a one-goal lead, and with the chance to score an away goal it seemed academic that Barcelona would still get the job done. Half-time is a critical juncture in every match where the best managers truly make their presence felt, both tactically and in terms of motivation, and Klopp unequivocally outclassed Valverde as the home side immediately played the Spanish champions off the Anfield pitch in the second period.

The three-goal second half was perhaps best summed up by Origi’s late winner, where Trent Alexander-Arnold, a 20-year old fullback, caught the experienced Barcelona back line napping on a quick corner for a goal that would have been deemed unacceptable defending at the youth levels, much less in a Champions League semi-final.

While the Catalan club still have yet to make an official decision on Valverde’s future following the collapse, it should be all but a formality that the former Athletic Bilbao manager will be shown the door at the end of the campaign.

Following three years of European dominance from rivals Real Madrid, 2019 was expected to be Barcelona’s return to glory. With a final matchup looming against Tottenham Hotspur, who Barcelona beat 4-2 earlier this season away from home, this was perhaps the easiest road they will have to a sixth Champions League title for some time.

Barça had a fairly simple path to reach this point, and even in the tie against Liverpool, their first real test, they were given a gift with a relatively lucky three-goal win given the balance of play at home and still failed to advance. While Valverde has had a successful career coaching in the mid-to-upper echelon of La Liga, he proved once again that when the stage gets too big, he and his team fall short of the mark.

He doesn’t have the power to motivate this group of players to perform, and Barcelona have proven time and time again during his tenure that they do not have another gear to find a way to win when they aren’t dominating the possession in the attacking third and Messi is lifting them to victory with his displays of brilliance.

This will undoubtedly be a summer of transition for Barcelona, with Philippe Coutinho looking likely to exit the club following a disastrous stint, and the Catalans will need to turn the stewardship of the club into new hands if they have any hope of finally delivering on their world-class talent while they still have Messi’s greatness at their disposal.