Valverde will wait
ERNESTO VALVERDE says his future at Barcelona will be decided at the end of the season.
The La Liga leaders and defending champions will look to pick up where they left off following their winter break, having won their last four games.
They resume with a trip to seventh-placed Getafe tonight, but the future of Valverde has hogged the headlines in the build-ups.
Boss Valverde said: “The contract has an optional year and at the end of the season we will decide. We have not even reached the middle of the season.”
Valverde, who took charge in 2017, has a contract running to 2020, but the Barca hierarchy are keen for him to re-commit to the club by next month. NIGEL CLOUGH rates Manchester City keeper Ederson as good enough to play in midfield for Burton Albion.
The League One club have the daunting prospect next week of trying to stop Pep Guardiola’s side from reaching the final of the Carabao Cup.
Clough put the tie into context by claiming Brazil star Ederson can do things with the ball his outfield players would struggle to match.
He said: “Their keeper is so good with his feet, he could play centre midfield for us. I’m being serious – he’s that good with his feet. “He could play in our engine-room. I’ve seen him pass balls none of our players can play. “It’s incredible. He smashed one the other night. They were being pressed by Liverpool and he hit a pass to Leroy Sane, it was about 70 yards. Sane never moved. m
“We haven’t h anyone on our books w who can do that.”
Cloug Clough said the Manchester City he left behind as a player bore no resem resemblance to the one since the takeover by She Sheikh Mansour & Co.
He a added: “I’ve never been to the Etihad. And I’m pretty sure they don’t still train at Platt Lane L on Moss Side, do they?
“It “It was open to the public but there wasn’t was many who turned up for training but bu occasionally they would come and watch. w
“They are genuine supporters. When W you look at when they went down do to League One, you’ve a chance of comin coming back if the fans stay with you.
“Sunderland Sund will come back like Manchester City. As long as the fans stand by the team, you’ve always got a chance. And look what has happened since then.”
Clough reckons David Silva is the one City player his late father Brian would have drooled over – although Guardiola’s style of football may have been “too pure” for his liking.
“He would have been a fan of the way they play, yes,” said the Brewers chief. “It might even have been too pure for him at times.
“I’m talking about the way the centrehalves take the ball and the goalkeeper.
“Nottingham Forest were renowned as one of the best footballing sides of their time, both in this country and in Europe.
“But I never saw Peter Shilton throw the ball out more than three times per game. He kicked it way more than he threw it.
“It went up to Garry Birtles – and we would play from there. I’m not sure Kenny Burns and Larry Lloyd would have been doing what Manchester City do now.
“Obviously, the game has moved on. He would have loved their attacking movement and if you are talking about players, then David Silva would have been one that my dad would have loved to have played for him. Silva is someone who just wants the ball all of the time. He loved players like that.”
Clough said the other three teams in the semi-final draw would have been praying to get Burton, viewing it as almost a bye into the final.
Albion were only promoted from nonleague 10 years ago and are 100-1 to lift the trophy and 33-1 to win this first leg.
He said: “We’re not going to go into the details of Manchester City with our lads – it would frighten them to death.
“But it will be good for our lads to see firsthand what these top players are like. How quick, strong and agile they are.” Burton are the first League One side to reach this stage of the League Cup since Sheffield United in 2014-15 – the Blades were then managed by current Brewers boss Nigel Clough.