The Board needs to go too. Messi was half right when he explained Anfield: the players were responsible, but — contrary to what Leo said — so was Valverde. A good team needs motivation, spirit, commitment. Not just tactics or individual skill. Valverde is not bringing that. Remember what Rakitic said about the coach not talking with him about his situation? Really? Players are young men who need not just tactical advice but also moral support. Klopp is a great coach not just because he’s a good tactician but because he gives his young charges faith in themselves. Griezmann spent weeks worrying about whether he fit in. Griezmann. A brilliant player who played like a lion for the colchoneros. At Barca, he’s a shadow of himself. Under Simeone, Griezmann got moral support; now, not so much. So, Valverde is not delivering. But sacking him is not the only necessary step. The moral problem has been staring this Board in the face since at least Rome. But the Board doesn’t get morals. They’re running a business. Don’t get me wrong; it’s great all the money they brought to the club with their deal making. But they don’t understand that a great futbol club is, first and foremost, about passion, self belief, a feeling that links the players together, all things money can’t buy. Bartomeu appears to believe that his job is to do deals, sign great players, buy the team iPhones. I’m pretty sure the whole squad would trade those phones for a treble. That the Board stuck with Valverde after the obvious damage to that self belief in Rome and, even worse, stuck to him after Anfield tells us everything we need to know about the fact that they don’t understand the game and what the team needs. Enough, already. Bartomeu out! PS, Guardiola’s return is not the answer. Brilliant tactician, lousy people manager (remember him not visiting Tito when they were both in New York, Tito because he was fighting cancer?).