Barcelona boss Ernesto Valverde remains hush on Paul Pogba links as Lionel Messi and Co train inside empty Wembley ahead of Tottenham clash
- Ernesto Valverde has refused to talk about links with Paul Pogba on Tuesday
- The Barcelona manager oversaw his side’s training session at Wembley Stadium
- Lionel Messi and Co gear up for their European visit to Tottenham on Wednesday
Barcelona coach Ernesto Valverde stayed silent on Paul Pogba but was happy to big up Harry Kane ahead of the Champions League clash with Tottenham.
Barcelona are reportedly monitoring Pogba’s situation at Manchester United, where his apparent rift with manager Jose Mourinho is showing no signs of being resolved.
A January bid for the unsettled France international from the Nou Camp could be on the cards.
Lionel Messi (left) and Luis Suarez (right) have a chat during a training session on Tuesday
Ivan Rakitic (right) smiles as Barcelona enjoy their training session inside an empty Wembley
Arturo Vidal passes the ball as his team-mates watch on during training on Tuesday evening
Ernesto Valverde refused to talk about links with Paul Pogba during his press conference
But Valverde said: ‘We don’t know what will happen in the future.
‘We respect players who are at other clubs so we don’t talk about them.’
Kane is showing signs of recapturing his usual sharpness following a slow start to the season.
The England striker scored two goals at Huddersfield at the weekend and Valverde is wary of the threat he poses.
The Barcelona manager oversaw the training session ahead of their clash with Tottenham
Nelson Semedo (centre) looks to control the ball as the Barca boys are put through their paces
The reigning La Liga champions trained inside an empty Wembley Stadium on Tuesday
‘We know he’s a decisive player,’ added Valverde. ‘We cannot compare last year and this year, what we know is his quality.
‘We expect his best tomorrow and we must try to stop him.’
Barcelona have wobbled domestically in the past week, taking just two points from three LaLiga matches including a shock defeat to bottom club Leganes.
Midfielder Ivan Rakitic said: ‘The good thing about football is that every four days you have a new chance. Obviously results haven’t been what we expected and we have to do better.
Barcelona’s Argentinian talisman keeps his eye on the ball during a training exercise
Barcelona’s goalkeeper Jasper Cillessen saves a shot as he gears up for Wednesday’s clash
‘We have a great game tomorrow, it’s very important. One or two bad games doesn’t change everything, we still have to do well.
‘We have to consider what we have done, we have done things even though we have to improve. Tomorrow is going to be a great game against a great team.
‘What we want is to defend the way Barcelona play and that gives us extra motivation.
‘We have a lot of respect for Tottenham. We know it will be really hard. They had a bad result in the first game so they will be trying, for sure.’
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