Barcelona boss Ernesto Valverde is targeting a second successive league and cup double this season as his side get set to face Levante in the Copa del Rey.
A repeat of last season’s achievement could be on the cards, with Barcelona top of LaLiga and in the last 16 of the cup, where they face a trip to Estadio Ciudad de Valencia on Thursday.
Valverde rejected the suggestion that a run in the cup could derail Barcelona’s title challenge and has his sights set on winning both competitions.
? Valverde: “It’s an open tie. We start as favourites but Levante are a good side and they will push us as they did in the league game” #CopaBarça pic.twitter.com/Afcuu7Hx5k
— FC Barcelona (@FCBarcelona) January 9, 2019
“I see the team and the players in good shape,” he told reporters at a pre-match press conference. “We just had a break, the players had some rest, and everybody was able to charge their batteries.
“We would like to have a lot of game in the cup because that’s good, it means we are getting through the rounds.
“With everything that is being talked about saying that the cup is a problem and that it could tire us out, I’m not so sure about that. Last season we might have dropped a point or two.
“January is a difficult month for us. It’s true the games come all at once and we have to make changes but the excitement for the club means a lot to us, the cup gives us a lot.
Valverde has decided to give the likes of Lionel Messi and Luis Suarez a rest with what will be a busy upcoming month for Barcelona.
Samuel Umtiti, Thomas Vermaelen and Rafinha are out while Munir El Haddadi will not be involved. The 23-year-old forward has been linked with Sevilla and he was also left out of the squad at Getafe at the weekend.
