Barcelona’s defeat to Sevilla last Thursday (the 23rd) by 2 to 0 only showed again that Ernesto Valverde is choosing to keep the focus of the team only in the Spanish Championship, La Liga.

“This year we are changing more the players because we think about what’s best. For La Liga, we want to keep the distance [in the table], and we think that the players of the cast have to help us, “said the coach at a press conference.

The option to put the Copa del Rey in the second position for the team is a method of focusing on the national championship to win points and reach the Champions League in full conditions.

Valverde remembers well the problems that they faced last season with the matches of different competitions happening close to one another, and the result was not favorable at all.

In February 2018, Barcelona accumulated three draws in five days, against Espanyol, Getafe and Las Palmas. After playing this matches, they had an important confront in the Champions League, which they suffered the defeat for Roma.

“It’s not that we have to dosage, but the month of January is the most complicated of all. The Cup is important, but winning points in La Liga is an extra and we also have to think about the future of the Champions League, “Luis Suárez once said.

Players like Sergio Busquets, Jordi Alba, Messi and Suárez are the basic pillars of this strategic exchange between the bank of the Catalan team. The four rest more than the rest with a single objective: to be in full yield in the month of May, which is when the titles are decided. And, what Barcelona wants, is to be able to get at least the title of La Liga, and maybe the Champions League as well.