The seven challenges awaiting Valverde at Barcelona

Posted Tuesday, May 30, 2017 by Marca.com

A new era is underway at Barcelona with the announcement that Ernesto Valverde will take over from Luis Enrique and the former Athletic Club coach already has a busy in-tray.

Expectations will always be high at the Camp Nou and Valverde must take on the following seven challenges.

1. Recover Barcelona's world dominance

Although the Catalan club boast a star-studded front three, they have lost their spot as the kings of European and world football, something which Valverde will be expected to solve.

2. Ensure that Iniesta stays

Andres Iniesta has not renewed his contract after a season in which injuries and rotation meant he played less often than expected, so the new boss must convince the World Cup winner that he is a part of his plans and that he should stay at the Camp Nou.

3. Reduce the dependence on the front three

As much as the MSN front line is a major positive for Barcelona, one of the 53-year-old's priorities will be to rely less on their individual skill and to find other ways to win so that Barcelona can pick up points even when Lionel Messi, Luis Suarez and Neymar are absent.

4. Trust in the youth academy

Several La Masia players have made their debuts under Luis Enrique, but few of them have been able to lock down a regular starting place and the new boss must try to unearth some gems from the youth system, as he has done in Bilbao.

5. Manage the Messi factor

With Messi set to turn 30, it will become increasingly important to manage the Argentine's playing time and to ensure he saves his best for the business end of the season.

6. Show a friendly face

The club is keen to move on from the hostile atmosphere experienced at some press conferences during Luis Enrique's tenure and Valverde will be expected to mend some of the broken relationships with the media.

7. Improve the defence

As much as the Catalan side have been lethal in attack in recent seasons, they have regularly committed errors in defence and Valverde must make his new team harder to score against.