Since arriving at Barcelona, he has known that the team needs to change its philosophy to be able to return to dominance in both domestic and continental competitions. After Neymar arrived at PSG, he revised his plans, changing them to fill the void left by the player at Barcelona.
The defeat after 2 matches against Real Madrid in the Spanish Super Cup has had a big impact on Barcelona. However, they have returned strongly with 4 consecutive wins, 12 goals, 0 losses.
Here are some highlights that Coach Valverde has achieved in the past month with the team at Nou Camp:
Messi plays closer to the opponent's penalty area
The former Athletic Bilbao head coach has insists Messi should not retreat too deep to get the ball and launch an attack. He has given the Argentine superstar more freely. That is the reason why Messi has scored 8 goals in the first 6 official matches of the 2017-2018 season.
Say goodbye to the 4-3-3 formation
Instead of the 4-3-3 formation like under coach Luis Enrique, Barcelona has switched to playing with a 4-4-2 or 4-2-3-1 formation. With Neymar gone, maintaining an attacking triangle is no longer appropriate. In case he does not have the ball, Ousmane Dembele will drop to play in midfield while Busquets will join Rakitic to form a defensive midfield pair.
Effectiveness in the wing
The ability to operate dynamically of Jordi Alba and Nelson Semedo in a few recent matches has created a favorable situation for Barcelona. They also contributed to preventing the opponent from approaching Ter Stegen's goal.
Iniesta is still the main character
Iniesta's position in the Barcelona first team is undeniable. He has been an important link in the team's tactical system for many years. Coach Valverde seems to have reset Iniesta's favorite position in midfield.
Firm defense
Four consecutive matches without conceding a goal is a clear message showing the transformation of the Barcelona defensive system. Semedo and umtiti are gradually adapting to coach Valverde's philosophy. In addition, goalkeeper Ter Stegen received better support from his teammates.
The desire to win again
Barcelona players have changed their on-field attitude compared to last season. They focused on the ball and put strong pressure on their opponents. It is like the ambition to win both La Liga and the UEFA Champions League has returned to Barcelona.
