Valverde urges treble focus after Barca's LaLiga triumph

Lionel Messi came off the bench to score the goal that sealed LaLiga for Barcelona, but Ernesto Valverde is hungry for more.

Published : Apr 28, 2019 08:29 IST

Ernesto Valverde sent a timely reminder to his Barcelona players of the challenges ahead after the side wrapped up the title in LaLiga on Saturday.

Lionel Messi came off the bench to score the only goal against Levante at Camp Nou, ensuring Barca retained its top-flight crown by moving nine points clear of Atletico Madrid – against which it boasts a superior head-to-head record – with three games to go.

Although the Catalan giant enjoyed the post-match celebrations on the pitch with family and friends, Valverde called for focus with the Champions League and Copa del Rey still up for grabs.

READ: Ronaldo beats Messi to 600 club goals

"We are happy, but we still have challenges ahead," said the Barca coach, with Liverpool the visitor on Wednesday in the first leg of its Champions League semi-final.

"Winning the title with distance and with margin are things that with the competitors we have is difficult."

Messi was named on the bench for the second match running but came on at the interval for profligate former Liverpool star Philippe Coutinho.

The Argentinian superstar made the difference, breaking the deadlock in the 62nd minute to finally puncture the dogged resistance of the relegation-threatened visitor.

"It was clear that Messi had to play at least 45 minutes," added Valverde.

"We have a match on Wednesday and we must be active and at the end he has scored the goal because we already know that Leo scores goals everywhere."

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