Ernesto Valverde has said he’d have “given his arm” for the touch of his team’s captain Andres Iniesta after the veteran graced what could be his last final for the club with a goal in Saturday’s evening’s 5-0 Copa del Rey final dismantling of Sevilla.
Barca completely steamrolled Sevilla to win a fourth consecutive Copa — and 30th in total — with Luis Suarez scoring twice in the first half, either side of a Lionel Messi strike. Iniesta made it 4-0 just after the break by coolly rounding Sevilla goalkeeper David Soria, with Philippe Coutinho’s penalty completing the scoring.
Valverde withdrew his skipper to an ovation late on, and the 33-year-old was in tears on the bench as the Barca fans in the crowd chanted his name. Minutes later Iniesta received the Copa trophy — the sixth of his career — from Spain’s King Felipe VI.
“Let’s see what happens,” Valverde said. “Andres is the one who must take the decision, and communicate it. It is clear that Andres is a joy to watch and enjoy, today with a goal too.
“It is like with Messi, how they make the difficult things look so easy. When I was a player I’d have given my arm for some of the touches he can do.”
Support InfoStride News' Credible Journalism: Only credible journalism can guarantee a fair, accountable and transparent society, including democracy and government. It involves a lot of efforts and money. We need your support. Click here to Donate