Barça returns to the bad streak of matches

Valverde: "The first part has been decisive"

Ernesto Valverde was very clear at the end of the match against Betis, corresponding to Round 12 of the Santander League, that the defeat was based on the first half.

The FC Barcelona coach acknowledged that they failed to take advantage of the risky system raised by the green and white team, which led to a series of defensive mismatches that resulted in the 0-2 at half-time.

"We wanted to take advantage of the fact that Betis has a situation with many players in front and we started well, squeezing and causing losses of the rival, but there has been a time when the match has broken, we had some mismatches and we have conceded two goals," summed up a Valverde who was clear that "the first half has been decisive.

Valverde regretted that the reaction in the second half was aborted by two unfortunate plays: "We lacked time in the interval between the 1-2 and 1-3 to be able to regain the match. In an unfortunate move they made us the third. Then, after the 2-3 we were sent off to Rakitic and then we fit the 2-4.

We knew we weren't going to be able to dominate the match, but the key is that we weren't very successful in the 1x1 and we lacked continuity, hence the result of the first half. We made a very bad first half and allowed them to distance themselves on the scoreboard.

The FC Barcelona coach insisted on the mistakes made by his team: "I don't want to detract from the opponent, because he took risks to win, but I have to think that we could have counteracted that in another way. We could have stopped the cons earlier.

We didn't attack well and when they stole the ball from us, they took advantage of the accumulation of players at the top. Everything goes together, when a team attacks well, defends well.

Valverde explained his bet on Malcolm in the starting eleven and the discard of Rafinha, a player who had had a good performance in the absence of Messi: "I knew it was going to be a game without control in which situations were going to arise 3x3 in attack and thought that in that dynamic match, Malcolm could give us overflow and depth. Regarding Rafinha's absence, I thought we needed players to give us more deployment and he helps us more in possession.

He also valued the contribution of Arturo Vidal, who scored a goal and served another: "As the game was, we had to shake it and put a bit of cane, because we lacked a little intensity. The match wasn't there for anyone to control it and Arturo has arrived". Rakitic's dismissal could open the door to the Chilean's starting line-up, an option that the Blaugrana coach insinuated: "He can start any match.

-          Do you think Valverde is having a passive attitude during games?

-          Do you think he doesn't risk making a change during the match or when he makes the initial 11?

-          What do you think he should do?