Ernesto Valverde, Philippe Coutinho and his wish for Three King's Day

Ernesto Valverde's press conference on Saturday could not pass without questions about the transfer market and, in particular, Philippe Coutinho. 

However, the Barcelona coach managed to avoid giving details away about the club's move for the Liverpool playmaker. 

First of all, he was asked if his request for Three Kings' Day would be the same as the supporters': the signing of Coutinho. 

“What the supporters want, apart from good players, is that the team wins and plays well,” he said.

“From my perspective, that’s what we can give them: a good performance [against Levante] and tree points. I’m not one of the Kings so I can’t promise them anything else.” 

And at the end of the press conference he was asked why he always avoided talking about Coutinho's qualities when asked about the Brazilian. 

“He’s a great player, just like all the other great players I’m asked about that play for great teams," he responded. "I can recognise that, but they’re at other teams. 

“What I like to do is to talk about the players that I have here. That doesn’t mean I don’t rate Coutinho or the other great players in the world, but we also have great players. 

“We haven’t signed anyone. When there's [transfer] news, the club announces it.”