Ernesto Valverde has been under real pressure at Barcelona all throughout the current season and now that Mauricio Pochettino is without a club, there are fears that the Catalans will be looking to bring in the former Spurs boss pretty soon.
Barcelona are currently sitting at the top of the La Liga table – three points ahead of arch-rivals Real Madrid but their performances under Ernesto Valverde has not been anything out of the ordinary this season.
And now since Spurs have parted ways with Pochettino, there’s a huge buzz in Spain that the former Espanyol manager could return back to the La Liga and take charge of Barcelona.
But while many Barca fans will be keeping their hopes high for this one but a couple of years back, Poch was asked about the prospect of managing another club in the La Liga to which he made it very clear that his allegiances lie with Espanyol.
“I am an Espanyol supporter,” he had said back in 2017[as quoted by The Express].
“I don’t think I need to speak too much. It’s like if one day [the Tottenham chairman] Daniel Levy sacked me – in a few years it would be impossible for me to manage Arsenal.
“In football I know it is so difficult to keep your values and to be loyal – with your heart and emotion.
“But for me before being a manager, before being a player, being loyal is more important. I am an Espanyol fan.
“I love Espanyol. It’s like Tottenham for me now. It will be impossible, one day, to move to Arsenal. It will be impossible.”
Now we all know Jose Mourinho said the same thing back in 2015 regarding managing Tottenham Hotspur but now he is at the helm of one of Chelsea’s top rivals.
And with the way Barcelona have been playing under Ernesto Valverde this season, it would be a surprise if the management chooses to get rid of the 55-year-old in order to bring in the South American.
Also if Barca come calling we are doubtful whether Mauricio Pochettino would be able to resist the temptation of taking up the job despite all the love which he has for Espanyol.
