Ernesto Valverde: I want to greet Lopetegui on Sunday

Ernesto Valverde: I want to greet Lopetegui on Sunday

Valverde espera que Lopetegui llegue a El Clásico / | Perform

The Barca coach hopes his Madrid counterpart is not sacked by then

Barcelona coach Ernesto Valverde says he hopes Julen Lopetegui is still in charge of Real Madrid by the time the teams meet on Sunday in the Clasico.

There are reports that Madrid chief Florentino Perez might sack the club’s coach.

“Of course I'd like to see Lopetegui,” said Valverde.

“And tomorrow (Spalletti). It would mean we’re all in our place. We're in the world of football, it's a spectacle and the coaches form part of that. We're at clubs like Madrid and Barcelona which mean the noise is more than the normal.”

On Messi: “Of course it conditions us not having Leo, a lot. But at the same time it's a challenge for us, know we have important games. But we’re excited to take on this week, Sevilla, back to the top of the league, now with the Champions League then Sunday, it’s Madrid. I said the other day, we want to miss Leo but we want to miss him by winning.”

Malcom: “It's true he's not played much, but he has to be ready to play at any moment. It could be tomorrow, could be another day.”

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