Before the Barcelona derby, Ernesto Valverde talked for the first time about the disappointing end to the transfer window but reminded people of the quality already in his squad. It was a line similar to that used by Bartomeu and Jordi Alba in recent days.

“The best thing is that it [the transfer window] is over. We are focussed on the team we have and I’m happy with the whole squad,” Valverde said. “Our team is the best team in the world. The squad is extraordinary. The tendency is to downplay what he have and overestimate the other more, but we have a great team and we’re going to fight for everything,” he added.

The manager downplayed the week’s controversies saying “there’s a lot of noise around Barcelona, but it seems like there is more than there actually is. There is an alternative reality. We try not to let the noise affect us too much”.

He insisted that “we work so that our supporters enjoy [watching us] and to get results. I know that a lot of the times, names, signings appeal to people a lot and generate excitement, although the excitement is ephemeral and depends on how things are going. We want to win people over and for them to enjoy themselves at the Camp Nou”.

Valverde took questions on some of the controversies of the summer in good humour: “Rebellion on Instagram? I find out incredible things at press conferences. It’s about winning, we’ve won two games and everything’s going well more or less”.

On the matter of the derby, the manager said “Espanyol play strongly in this type of game” and did not want to comment on non-football matters: “I’m not here to give personal opinions, I represent a plural club”.