Although Ernesto Valverde was born in Viandar de la Vera, Extremadura municipality of the province of Cáceres, he grew up in the Basque Country. He moved to Vitoria with his family and discovered that he could devote himself professionally to football at Deportivo Alavés. He went through the Sestao. He was a disciple of Javier Clemente at Espanyol and, after his fleeting stage at Barça de Cruyff, he played 83 games with Athletic, a team he would later coach in two stages. Ernesto Valverde has been asked on several occasions to interpret possible similarities between the conflict lived in the Basque Country and the process of Catalonia. And the technician is still clear about the answer: "It is not comparable. Every situation had its moment." To add: "But there are people who must take steps in the world of politics to find points of understanding. There are things that are not pleasant to see, such as what is happening in Barcelona these days . But I hope everyone takes a step forward ".

Three days have passed since the Supreme Court made public the sentence of the prisoners of the process . The sport is also suffering the consequences. While the Competition Committee of the Royal Spanish Football Federation prepared the postponement of the classic between Barcelona and Real Madrid initially scheduled for October 26 at the Camp Nou, it was Valverde who took the media pulpit to fix his position: "We did not finish to see that the order of the games was changed, playing first at the Bernabéu. We have a trip today [Barça, which plays this Saturday against Eibar, advanced its trip due to the strike day called this Friday in Catalonia]. Tuesday we travel again, this time to Prague. We would have had to travel again ... In addition, we must respect the calendar. Also the fans. "

From there, Valverde tried to explain the reasons why Barcelona should play the classic on the initially scheduled date and at the Camp Nou: " The normal thing is to play in our field. Many things are being anticipated and there are still nine days left . We trust in ourselves and in our people. The 1-O of 2017 was played in our stadium [Barça did it behind closed doors in front of Las Palmas]. And a week later, in the Wanda Metropolitano. Everybody foresaw a dramatic game , and what happened was that a great meeting was held, with people who expressed themselves in the field with their ideas. And we would expect the same at the Camp Nou . "

Riots "out of the ordinary"

In fact, Valverde said he found no reason for the postponement of the classic: " I see it as an opportunity for many people here. For our fans. For society. Everyone is aware that these images [of the riots in the streets from Barcelona] they are going to move to that party, but it doesn't have to be that way, it would be an opportunity to show many things, the classic can be celebrated perfectly, without any problem, and within civic norms. eliminate all those bullies who say you can't play. I would rather play that game. And my players too. "

The coach of Barcelona also had words before the tumults of the last days. " These riots are getting out of the ordinary. They do not correspond to what we usually live here. We all want maximum freedom of expression. We have to respect all of us and we need politicians to do their job. These days we have left a little of that ".

Valverde also had no doubts when they questioned him about the statement issued last Monday by Barcelona, ​​in which the Barca club requested a political resolution to the conflict and demanded the release of the prisoners. "I am sitting here because I am the Barcelona coach and I have to answer to my club. And I absolutely adhere to that statement," the coach closed.

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  • Barcelona
  • Catalonia
  • Basque Country
  • Real Madrid
  • Ernesto Valverde
  • Supreme Court
  • Las Palmas
  • Sports Alavés
  • Cáceres
  • sports
  • FC Barcelona

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