Barcelona have no intention of dismissing coach Ernesto Valverde, despite growing calls for a change at the Catalan club.

Valverde has been under renewed pressure since Barca lost 3-1 away to Levante at the beginning of November and scrutiny over his position intensified after his side's 0-0 draw at home to Slavia Prague last week.

The 55-year-old said after that match that he was not too concerned with the performance because Barca were still top of their Champions League group and ahead of Saturday's 4-1 win over Celta Vigo at Camp Nou, he revealed he had eaten with president Josep Maria Bartomeu and claimed he had the club's full support.

And Bartomeu, in an interview with AP, backed his coach, reiterating his belief that the former Athletic Club manager is the ideal man for the job at this point in time.

“This season we have brought in young players who have to help us get through those stages,” he said. “We think that Valverde is the ideal coach to lead this blending of a generation of players of a certain age who have been so successful with that of up-and-coming players.

“It is important to create this bond, this union, to make a new team and this new group that will carry Barca forward. And Valverde has this ability.”

The win over Celta, although unconvincing as it took a set-piece hat-trick from Lionel Messi to set the Blaugrana on their way to victory, has at least brought some calm at Camp Nou.

After that game, Barca's director of institutional relations, Guillermo Amor, was asked by Movistar if the club had thought of sacking Valverde and said: "It has not crossed anybody's mind. Ernesto is a great coach and we are first in the two competitions.

"He is a fantastic guy, a great professional and we are thrilled with him."

A downturn in results over the coming weeks could change that view, but Valverde's job seems safe as long as Barca are on top of La Liga and providing the club progresses to the knockout stages of the Champions League.

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Bartomeu backed his coach at the end of last season, following the 4-0 collapse and elimination at Anfield, plus the 2-1 loss to Valencia in the final of the Copa del Rey, even though some members of his board were in favour of a change.

Valverde signed a contract in February this year which keeps him at the club until the end of the current campaign, with an option to extend the agreement for another season, which would be his fourth at the club.

Of Barca's recent coaches, only Frank Rijkaard and Pep Guardiola have stayed longer than three seasons at Camp Nou. The Dutchman was Barca boss for five years, but did not win a major trophy in his final two campaigns, while the Catalan regretted remaining for a fourth season, when the Blaugrana missed out on La Liga and the Champions League.

Unless there is a dramatic decline in results, Bartomeu and his board will reassess their options at the end of the season, but Standard Sport understands the club have not currently spoken to any other coaches about the possibility of succeeding Valverde at Camp Nou.