Champions League

Ernesto Valverde’s anti-Barcelona tactics the reason for loss to Roma?

Barcelona’s 3-0 loss to Roma in the second leg of the champions league quarterfinal clash could be hinged on their coach Ernesto Valverde.

Barcelona are good at a lot of things but not defending because they are bad at it and doing it against Roma cost them a place in the semifinal.

Ernesto Valverde likes to play a 4-4-2 formation as he puts tend to balance the positions in his team, the system might have worked for him thus far as they close to securing the League title and are yet to be beaten in the league.

Lionel Messi was the major difference between Barcelona and Chelsea when both teams played in the second round. The flattering 4-1 scoreline on aggregate made everyone not to talk about how Antonio Conte side dominated Barcelona in both legs. Their failure to convert their chances and lost of concentration helped Barcelona on both games but not the case against Roma.

Despite his 4-1 victory in the leg 4-1 Valderde set his team up like he did against Chelsea in the round of 16, instead of going the Barcelona way and attacking he decided to defend.

According to @forcabarca_ar via sport, the former Athletic Bilbao boss was involved in a heated argument with Gerard Pique during the match as the defender asked him to bring in attacking players to pile pressure on their hosts. But the but Ernesto Valverde bluntly told him to not interfere with his tactics.

It surely would have been different had Barcelona played the Barcelona way but a system that is close to winning the league and kept you unbeaten in the 31 league games shouldn’t be faulted.

But at Barcelona, it is expected that they compete every season for the most prestigious trophies.

Not taking anything away from Roma coach Di Francesco who made a tactical tweak on Tuesday by playing two tall strikers and instructing his players to keep sending long balls into Barcelona’s box. But if he had listened to Pique and bring in Dembele earlier than the 85th minute that he brought him in the story would have been different.

What do you think?

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