Valverde looks back at 2018

As John Lennon sung: Another year over and a new one just begun. So what better time to take FC Barcelona coach Ernesto Valverde aside and have a chat about how 2018 went and to look ahead to what we hope is going to be another great year for the club in 2019.

Click on the video for the full interview, while for those of you who prefer to read, here are some of the top quotes:

A good start

"Last season, the first half of the league was practically definitive for winning the title. We had a great second half too, but the first was fundamental”

“There’s still work to be done this time. I think we’re doing okay. There have been good spells but some that weren’t so good, but we’re on the right track”

Copa del Rey

“It was a target we had set, and we were in the right mind-set for that game"

"We’d been having some bad results and needed to make a statement. And the team responded with a great performance, perhaps our best of the season”

Tottenham

“That was a huge game for us, not just because of the result, but the way we did it after going for three games, against Athletic, Leganés and Girona without a win. So that was a very important win for us”

Liga highlights

“I’d take the 5-1 win against Madrid. Also the derby with Espanyol, because we didn’t win either of our games there last season and this time we won 4-0. I think we’ve had some great moments in the league”

Jeison Murillo

“We were looking for a player with experience, who knows La Liga and who could join us immediately, as well as the financial considerations for the club”