Barcelona Coach Ernesto Valverde has allayed concerns over the club’s potential elimination from the Copa del Rey: “We have no doubts.”
A report in El Mundo claims that one of Barca’s players for their first leg defeat– Juan Brandáriz , better known as Chumi – was not sanctioned to play in the match due to being banned whilst playing for the club’s B side.
“We knew at the time of Chumi’s suspension,” Valverde told reporters after the match, as cited by Marca.
“There are no doubts from our side over the player, neither before the game, during the game nor after it – we are totally confident.
“We should be in the draw for the quarter-finals and we are convinced that we have done nothing wrong because we were in full control of this decision.
“We knew that he could not feature in the league clash with Eibar due to his suspension but in the Copa this did not apply.
“Links to Carlos Vela? He does not play for us, he is at another club. The market is open and I understand these question, but we must respect this.”
