It was interesting he said the same about Arsenal too: “But I am an Espanyol supporter. 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.”
Go hard, or go home. Anyone else really looking forward to spurs - boro tomorrow? Should be a cracking game, with the winner picking up a prestigious 4th round trip to our place. Whispers already predicting a full strength team from moaning myrtle.
So... we're happy to accept that he was asked if he wanted the job... But not willing to accept he turned them down when it goes to somebody else. Think I've got it.
Did anyone watch the Spanish Super Cup final? And if you did any thoughts on Valverde’s actions? Been given man of the match by lots of places because of it
Quite possibly, in fact probably. He’s (as mentioned) said he could never manage Barca. There’s no reason to believe he has changed that stance. If anyone is going to know, it’s Balague. They’re good friends.
Straight from Balagues mouth Before Setien's signing another former Barca player, the ex-Everton manager Ronald Koeman, also turned down their offer to take the job until the end of the season. And they also approached Mauricio Pochettino, recently sacked by Tottenham
Morata was clean through on goal in extra time, score was 0-0 and Valverde hacked him down from behind in the most cynical of cynical fouls imaginable. He got a straight red as last man and Real won on pens. Simeone said it was a great move by him, and he was given motm by various media outlets. Have a feeling if that happened in the FA Cup final the reaction might be a bit different
Childish? You're the one who's refusing any other point but your own despite the overwhelming evidence which contradicts you.
From Balague - Unfortunately, probably because of his long history with Espanyol, Pochettino has an entire back catalogue of statements he has made proclaiming why he would never take the Barcelona job and the likelihood of him doing so will always be remote.