"I'm surprised we're talking about Coutinho's celebration more than his goal"

Philippe Coutinho's goal celebration against Manchester United has been talked about almost as much as Barcelona's qualification for the Champions League semifinal. 

Asked about the situation before Saturday's visit from Real Sociedad, Ernesto Valverde defended his player, who celebrated scoring Barça's third goal against United by cupping his ear in front of the home supporters. 

"I've not spoken with him," he said in a press conference. "Yes, it's true he made a gesture [to the fans] when he scored, but it surprises me that we're talking about that more than a great goal in a Champions League quarterfinal. It didn't seem anything special to me or a lack of respect towards anyone. We give to much importance to these anecdotes."

Coutinho's celebration came on the back of a season which has seen him frequently criticised for his performance for Barça.

"It's normal that he's been criticised because we're at a club were the demands are so high," Valverde added. "There are always different spells during a season, but the other day he played really well, scored a great goal and that's what I took from the game." 

Valverde congratulated Coutinho for his performance, though, and hopes that he will now enjoy a purple patch as Barça fight for La Liga, the Copa del Rey and the Champions League. 

He said: "Players feed off confidence the same as everyone else and when they get things right, when the play well, that confidence grows quickly. They then have confidence which maybe at other moments they didn't have. We're all exposed to criticism and praise continuously and Coutinho's the same as everyone else."