Ander Herrera: Valverde shows how to be a great manager and a great person
The Manchester United player worked with the Barça boss in Bilbao
Herrera also spoke about Andres Iniesta and Lionel Messi
Manchester United's Ander Herrera has praised his former manager, Ernesto Valverde, who is now the coach of Barcelona.
"I have special admiration for Valverde because he shows that he can be a great manager and a great person," Herrera said in an interview with Panenka.
The Spanish midfielder also admitted his admiration for Andres Iniesta, one of his idols, and the fact he has spent his whole career at one club.
"It's something I like a lot. But it's also tough for everyone to achieve it," he said. "It's easy to deify Xavi, Iniesta, Totti... but for me, as a Zaragoza fan, I haven't had the chance to play my whole career at La Romareda.
"Due to financial reasons and because, honestly, it's not the same as starting your career at Barça, like Iniesta. I think about Juan Mata, too, who is massive on Real Oviedo. With the talent he has and where the club were in his day, it's difficult to achieve that."
Herrera also said it would have been "a shame" if Lionel Messi had not made the World Cup: "But at the end of the day it is what it is. It wouldn't be right for me to tell you he had to be there come what may, eiether, because you have to respect the other contries. But, of course, I prefer him to be there."
