Lionel Messi and his Barcelona team-mates gear up for Valencia clash as Ernesto Valverde urges stars to stop ‘crying’ following shock Roma defeat
- Barcelona take on Valencia at the Nou Camp on Saturday afternoon in La Liga
- Ernesto Valverde’s side currently sit 11 points clear with just seven games left
- Barcelona go into the weekend’s clash on back of their shock 3-0 loss to Roma
Barcelona stars were hard at work on Friday as they look to bounce back following their humiliating Champions League exit to Roma during the week.
Lionel Messi, Luis Suarez, Andres Iniesta and Ousmane Dembele were among the Nou Camp stars snapped being put through their paces by Ernesto Valverde ahead of their clash with Valencia.
Messi and his Barcelona colleagues were seen taking part in possession drills as they aim to sharpen up their passing ahead of the weekend’s action.
Lionel Messi and Luis Suarez walk out for training on Friday ahead of their clash with Valencia
Messi chats to Barcelona team-mate Suarez as the pair warm up ahead of training on Friday
Ernesto Valverde will be desperate for his side to bounce back against Valencia on Saturday
Barcelona currently sit 11 points clear at the top of La Liga with just seven matches remaining ahead of Saturday afternoon’s clash.
The Catalan giants go into the match on the back of their shock 3-0 defeat to Roma on Tuesday night, which saw them exit the Champions League on away goals at the quarter-final stage.
And speaking three days after their collapse in Rome, Valverde has told his side that they cannot ‘stay at home crying’.
Spaniard Andres Ineista and compatriot Aleix Vidal share a laugh prior to Friday’s session
France international Ousmane Dembele wraps up warm in the chilly conditions in Barcelona
Barcelona stars take part in possession drills as they gear up for the La Liga action on weekend
‘The fans reaction will depend on how we react on the pitch and we need 10 more points to win the league and we should not forget that at the moment another team are the champions,’ Valverde said on Friday.
‘We cannot stay at home crying. If we win, we’ll need only seven more points (to clinch the title) and that was unthinkable a few months ago.
We shouldn’t be thinking about what we’ve lost, but instead focus on what we can win.’
After Barcelona take on Valencia, they face Celta Vigo away in the Spanish top flight on April 17.
Suarez and Messi will be eager to bounce back after losing 3-0 to Roma on Tuesday night
Valverde has told his players that they cannot ‘stay at home crying’ after the Roma defeat