Ernesto Valverde pleased with Barcelona's second half show at Getafe

Sport360 staff 07:30 17/09/2017
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  • Ernesto Valverde.

    Barcelona coach Ernesto Valverde praised his team for their second-half reaction after they came from behind to win 2-1 at Getafe.

    The first half at the Coliseum Alfonso Perez saw Barca lose their big-money new recruit Ousmane Dembele to an apparent hamstring injury on his first league start for the club, and the hosts then take a deserved lead through a Gaku Shibasaki wonder-strike.

    But goals from two substitutes turned things around for the Catalan giants after the break, with Denis Suarez levelling around the hour mark before Paulinho fired in late on.

    The victory preserved leaders Barca’s 100 per cent start in LaLiga after four games.

    Valverde, quoted by Marca, said aftewards: “The opposition put us under pressure but this comeback reinforces our belief that we are indeed capable of reacting to difficulty.”

    The 53-year-old, who also said “the pitch didn’t help…as the ball didn’t run”, said of Dembele: “He is going to spend some time out.

    “He has a muscle problem and tomorrow he is going to have some more tests.”

    Valverde was delighted to see two substitutes make such a vital contribution.

    “It is important for them as individuals, it gives them both confidence, whilst also showing that our squad is deep and we have many players who can help us,” he said.

    Former Tottenham midfielder Paulinho’s move to Barca from Chinese side Guangzhou Evergrande over the summer raised plenty of eyebrows.

    But the Brazil international, brought on in the 77th minute, issued quite a statement to his doubters with his winner as he collected Lionel Messi’s pass, shrugged off Djene while bursting into the box and lashed past Vicente Guaita with six minutes to go.

    Suarez’s strike was also a fine effort, and the Spanish midfielder said: “The fringe players have been criticised, but today we have been able to show our quality.

    “(Paulinho) is an international with Brazil, he was even the captain in the last international break, so this should tell you everything you need to know about him, he is a great player.”

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