Barcelona boss Ernesto Valverde has warned his players against complacency ahead of their Champions League semifinal second leg clash with Liverpool next week.
Valverde talked about the need to guard against complacency during his post-match press conference after the Liverpool game on Wednesday night.
The former Athletic Bilbao manager masterminded a 3-0 home win for Barcelona in what was the first leg of their Champions League semifinal tie with Premier League title chasers Liverpool.
Ernesto Valverde went on to give the example of last year’s exit when Barcelona let a three-goal lead slip from the first leg against Italian Serie A giants AS Roma.
Barcelona had beaten Roma 4-1 in the first leg of their quarterfinal tie in the Champions League last season but the Italians were able to overturn that deficit via a 3-0 win at home in their second leg meeting.
Valverde warned his players that the Liverpool tie is not over despite taking a commanding first leg lead with the help of star player Lionel Messi.
The little magician scored two goals within seven second-half minutes to give his team a 3-0 lead after former Liverpool striker Luis Suarez had given Barcelona a first half lead.
Valverde and Barcelona will be hoping to seal a spot in the 2019 Champions League final in Madrid after next week’s second leg.
