Barcelona 1-2 Valencia: Copa del Rey winners thank Marcelino for making them a force again, while Barca question the authority of Ernesto Valverde

Barcelona 1-2 Valencia: Copa del Rey winners thank Marcelino for making them a force again, while Barca question the authority of Ernesto Valverde
Its said that domestic cup finals arent given the importance they once had, but Valencia captain Dani Parejo obviously didnt get the memo. As the midfielder hobbled, tears streaming down his face, to collect the Copa del Rey from the King of Spain and lift Los Ches first trophy in 11 years, the picture the midfielder painted was anything but passive.Beyond the individual emotions, cup finals can still be significant in their pivotal nature. That was the case the last time someone upset one of LaLigas big two in the Copa del Rey, back in 2013, when Atltico Madrid beat Real Madrid in their own backyard and fired of a warning shot that showed it could be time to take the Colchoneros seriously again as a domestic force. A prophecy that was fulfilled one year later when they won LaLiga against all the odds.Getty Images - Getty4

Valencia pulled off an almighty shock to crush Barcelona’s double dream

Equally, Valencias 2-1 win over Bara feels like a point of inflection in a number of ways. Most obviously, it is a key marker for the victors, certifying their most successful season since the golden era of Rafa Benitez, making 2019 a year in which Champions League football, a domestic trophy and a European semi-final were all achieved.Valencia have a squad built to achieve big things, and in the year of the clubs centenary the pressure to fulfil that potential and deliver silverware was huge. The expectations resting on the long misfiring club in Spains third city on this landmark year should not be underestimated. Their players and coach will have been reminded of it every day, in every human reaction they have. Parejos choked up comments, pitchside at final whistle, provided a glimpse into that weight.Getty Images - Getty4

Messi pulled one back but it was not enough following a disastrous first-half

Ive been at this club for eight years, and there have been really tough years. A club of Valencias size deserves far more joyous occasions like this. Weve made history in a huge year for us, our centenary, the captain remarked.Only four months ago, 2019 looked like it would be another of those tough years for Valencia. In January, when they sat an embarrassing 12th in the league table, Marcelinos position was in serious doubt. But Parejo led the rallying cry, sending a message from the dressing room to the people upstairs. Embracing his coach during a match against Valladolid for the eyes of the world to see, the next day he hammered home the message, insisting that a season shouldnt be treated as lost in January, and that there was ‘time and hunger necessary to reach our goals’. With the players as his shield, Marcelino wasnt sacked. Valencia ultimately finished fourth, and they are now cup winners. All thanks to the backing of a squad that fully bought into the ideas being sold by their coach, to the extent that they were prepared to put their own necks on the line to save his. Based on their resilience this year, they could yet push on to achieve even bigger things in 2020.Will Barcelonas players be prepared to stick out their necks for their own boss? Ernesto Valverde has just defended the league title, but following an era of dominance the expectations at the Camp Nou are so huge that the Blaugrana head has undoubtedly been hurt by Saturdays defeat, compounding the damage done by their slip-up against Liverpool. If Valencias win was a turning point in the right direction, then Barcelonas loss could be the one that sends Valverde in the other.Getty Images - Getty4

Marcelino is doing a remarkable job with Valencia, making them a force once more

Much like the way they let the Champions League final slip through their fingers at Anfield, it is the manner in which Barcelona lost against Valencia which really raises the alarm. Look no further than the three remnants of their greatest team ever for evidence: it is not often than Sergio Busquets repeatedly gives the ball away, Gerard Piqu sends a switch of play straight out for an opposition throw, and Lionel Messi fails to find Jordi Alba on the overlap with a diagonal pass he has completed countless times before.But that is exactly what happened to Bara in their disastrous first half this weekend. A mad 45 minutes to match a mad 45 minutes in Anfield, and a mad 45 minutes in Rome the year before. Three times where Barcelonas players just didnt look like they were buying whatever their coach was trying to sell. Valencias determination and commitment until the end in Seville was a stark contrast.Getty Images - Getty4

Valverde’s future is a source of constant speculation, could he go this summer?

Piqus post-match flash interview on Saturday was telling. Handed the chance to give the vote of confidence to his superior, the centre-back stopped somewhere halfway. You have to do an individual analysis on everyone, what we can improve. The future of the coach doesnt depend on us. We have a long summer to analyse and see what we can do better.Compare that to Parejos human shield of Marcelino back in the winter, and draw your own conclusions. While the Copa del Rey winners now look to be at the start of something special, the resurgence of one of Spains sleeping giants finally kicking off thanks to backing the right manager for the right time, the losers have a tough call to make. Faced with a summer of some considerable transition against a backdrop of criticism, is it time to intervene, or does their manager have the authority necessary to weather the storm?

---

Manchester City will become first English club to win 50

---

Football's most expensive players: Neymar, Coutinho and Pogba on the list, but who could join them this summer? The 2019 transfer window could see some new entries into the top-ten priciest
Football's most expensive players: Neymar, Coutinho and Pogba

---

Liverpool transfer news: Reds have £62m bid for Benfica wonderkid Joao Felix rejected The Anfield hierarchy have had to act quick as Manchester City, PSG, Barcelona and Monaco are also tracking
Liverpool transfer news: Reds have £61m bid for Man Utd

---

Arsenal are sixth in the Premier League table and seven points adrift of a Champions League place, with eight league games left to play this season. Theo Walcott suggested after the Palace defeat that the Eagles wanted to win more than the Gunners, adding to the pressure being heaped on the 67-year-old Wenger.

---

Real Madrid boss Santiago Solari. More evidence the youngster has Solari's committed backing came in Amsterdam. When Marcelo took his seat on the sideline, any last grains of doubt over who the number one left-back would be in Madrid's favoured competition dropped away.
Sergio Reguilón #23 News, Stats, Photos - Real Madrid

---

Gary Neville believes there will be another slip-up in the Premier League as Manchester City and Liverpool battle it out for the title. Liverpool moved back to the league with a convincing 5-0 win
Manchester City's Pep Guardiola sends message ahead of

---

RANGERS boss Steven Gerrard has expressed surprise and disappointment in Steve Clarke following the Kilmarnock manager's comments about a potential ban for Jermain Defoe. Clarke, one of Gerrard
Rangers news: Steven Gerrard hits back at Steve Clarke dive

---

Brendan Rodgers believes Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola thrives off the pressure of the Premier League title race. Liverpool's dramatic 3-2 win over Newcastle on Saturday means City need to beat Leicester to return to the top-flight summit on Monday, with commentary live on talkSPORT.
Man City: Brendan Rodgers explains why Pep Guardiola will

---

Fulham have been relegated from the Premier League following a heavy 4-1 defeat at Watford. The Cottagers become the second team to have their Championship status confirmed, three days after Huddersfield's fate was sealed at Crystal Palace.
Watford 4-1 Fulham: Cottagers suffer Premier League

---

Manchester United transfer news: Juventus 'compiling a dossier' on Marcus Rashford as they join race for England striker The Italian giants are reportedly watching the 21-year-old closely as
LIVE Transfer Talk: Juventus target Manchester United's

---

Goal takes a look at the biggest transfer news and rumours from the Manchester United and Chelsea have joined Manchester City in the battle to land Juventus plot move for Chelsea's Emerson
NewsNow: Football Transfer Gossip | Football Transfer News

---

All the 2018/19 Premier League kit released so far ranked & rated. The fans have the replica shirts, some of them even have that third kit, the one that seems largely pointless but still gets made
Crystal Palace - Premier League preview 2013-14 | Daily Mail

---

Chelsea loanee Reece James will captain Wigan in his EFL EXPERT EYE - Reece James: What those in the know say about the Chelsea loanee who has starred for Wigan in the Championship this season.
The Latest Reece James News | SportSpyder

---

West Ham have received a bid in excess of £35million from a Chinese Super League club for Marko Arnautovic. and Manchester United transfer target Marko Arnautovic. United Transfer News
Pellegrini press conference live: West Ham boss on Arnautovic

---

SKY BET LEAGUE TWO. PLAY-OFF SEMI-FINAL FIRST LEG. Tranmere Rovers 1. Forest Green Rovers 0. GOAL-LINE technology, a red card and two Forest Green penalty shouts served up a semi-final first leg blockbuster - handing Tranmere Rovers the advantage going into Monday night's second installment.
Forest Green v Tranmere Highlights - League Two play-off semi

---