Barcelona Fans Fume As Ernesto Valverde Awarded New Contract

News of a contract extension for a successful football manager is normally a cause for celebration.

But Barcelona fans have reacted with horror at the news that Ernesto Valverde has been offered a new deal.

Valverde has signed up for another season with the option for one more at Camp Nou. While his record stands up to many of his contemporaries, his style of football has often been described as bland especially considering the many attacking options he has at his disposal.

His refusal to use more players from the club's famed La Masia has also counted against him. Neither is Valverde a coach who is going to create too many issues in the boardroom, in stark contrast to the likes of Pep Guardiola. But a "safe pair of hands" is not want the Barcelona fans want as they look longingly at the big personalties in top jobs elsewhere like Jurgen Klopp at Liverpool and Mauricio Pochettino at Tottenham Hotspur.

The timing of the announcement has been heavily criticised with some suggesting this new deal should have saved until the end of the season. After all, it's still possible Barca could finish the season empty-handed with the Champions League looking to be the most open competition in years.

Today's announcement on Barca's Twitter page was greeted with a stream of GIFs ranging from people crying to being violently sick.  

Valverde won both the league title and the Copa del Rey in his first season and he has already added the Spanish Super Cup to that list this season. Barca came close to taking his side through 2017/18 undefeated with a defeat at Levante denying them this historic achievement.