Bartomeu: 'Valverde is the manager we want'

FC Barcelona president Josep Maria Bartomeu has said that manager Ernesto Valverde will be back. "He is the coach we want, he is under contract, and we are very happy with him," Bartomeu said.

"Planning for next season has been underway for some time," Bartomeu said. "Some players have already been signed [De Jong and Emerson] and we'll talk further after the Copa del Rey final. Now it's time for the players to recover from a drop in morale," he said, referring to the Champions League defeat to Liverpool.

Bartomeu also spoke about the Copa del Rey final. "Our main objective is La Liga, and after that, we want the Copa del Rey and the Champions League. We won La Liga with some games in hand. We all want more. Now the Copa del Rey final is coming, and we're coming off a painful loss. It's time to pick our heads up, to get excited, and to get motivated to compete."

Valencia, Bartomeu said, "are having a good season and I hope the final is competitive."

Proud of the Women's team

Bartomeu also discussed the Barça Women's team, which is playing in the Champions League final this Saturday in Budapest. "This was an objective that we reached earlier than expected," he said. "Whether we win or lose the final, we are making history. It has to be a stepping stone, a boost for the Women's team. We're very proud. We'll continue to support and invest in the Women's team, not just at the professional level, but at the development level too."