The first two big decisions Bartomeu needs to make at Barça
The president is facing a week where he needs to decide whether Valverde and Pep Segura keep their jobs
The next few days are extremely important for FC Barcelona. There's been meetings, analysis and now it's time for some decisions to be made. Josep Maria Bartomeu's first two judgements are related to the coach, Ernesto Valverde, and the club's sporting director, Pep Segura. The club knows they can't begin planning for next season until the futures of the pair have been resolved.
Bartomeu backed Valverde to continue on two occasions before the Copa del Rey defeat. Now whilst the Liverpool collapse didn't change Bartomeu's mind, the loss to Valencia has. Not because of the result but the sensation around the team. The president is unsure whether Valverde has the desire and effort needed to turn the situation around.
The board say it isn't simply about losing matches, as all teams do that, but how Valverde has been incapable of turning the bad situation around. Some believe he peaked with the domestic double victory last season and now feel his time is over.
However the players want Valverde to remain in charge. They believe his management of the squad has been excellent and that they were instead to blame for the losses at Anfield and at the Villamarin. The senior players lay the blame at the feet of sporting director Pep Segura. No one defends the job Segura has done apart from the president himself.
Bartomeu isn't worried about potential signings. He knows these two issues need to be resolved before they move forward with the club's planning. This is why all the meetings this week will be to decide whether Valverde and/or Pep Segura are removed from their roles. Once that's been decided the deals involving De Ligt, Griezmann and whoever else can be resolved.
