Ernesto Valverde's double challenge as he takes over at Barcelona

Ernesto Valverde is now Barcelona's new coach. It was a known secret that Josep Maria Bartomeu spoke to him yesterday after a supposed meeting with the technical committee. And I say supposed because I don't think that such an important decision was taken in a couple of hours. It's been weeks that Valverde has been Luis Enrique's substitute. Although some have wanted to hide it with an absurd secretism. But enough of that. The important thing is that Valverde is prepared for the double challenge ahead of him. A titanic double challenge. Help Barcelona return to their best version in football terms, and help them win the Champions League again. After a disappointing season in which they could only win the Copa del Rey, Barcelona need an authentic revolution. Starting on the bench. And followed by a club that needs more quality and, above all, more competition. More starters and less substitutes.

Valverde will be in charge of running the new era with his own style. Those who know him say he's a diplomatic type. Friendly. With a very different profile to Luis Enrique. That could be interesting. But not enough. Valverde will have to take important footballing decisions, to preserve the style. And to allow the trident's goals to count for something more than a cup. With the best attack in the world they have to reach, at least, the final of the Champions League. And win La Liga. Above all because Real Madrid haven't been a lot better. Valverde should take advantage of all the team's resources, and those Robert Fernandez will add, to make Barcelona the best team in the world again. If he does it, it will show he was right for the job. Until then I can only offer him a lot of luck. He is going to need it.