Valverde talks guard of honour, Iniesta and unbeaten streak ahead of El Clasico

Ernesto Valverde has faced the press ahead of El Clasico and was asked a wide range of questions about tomorrow’s game.

The Barcelona boss said he’s not really bothered about Real Madrid not performing a pasillo, doesn’t know if Andres Iniesta will play but says the unbeaten streak is important.

Here are the best bits:

Valverde on the guard of honour

We’ve already talked a lot about it. It is something that, no matter how much you talk, won’t matter. It seems fine to me, that’s it. We don’t give it any importance.

There is so much noise that it seems that you would have to do a survey. I believe that it is much simpler. Between direct rivals, it has more resonance.

Valverde on whether the Double is more important than winning the Champions League

As coaches, La Liga is the competition that shows how well you have performed throughout the whole year, the best team over the season wins.

In the Champions League, you can have an off day. You need some luck, because with bad luck, then you’re out. More teams can win the Champions League, but it’s just a select few who can the league because you have to sustain a high level of consistency all season.

Valverde on Andres Iniesta

I don’t know if he is going to play tomorrow. He has recognition from the people, from every fan because of what he means to Barcelona and Spanish football. You see it in every stadium.

We hope he’ll be ready. He took part in training yesterday and he’ll train today. We’ll see how he’s feeling. If he’s doing well and feeling good, he’ll be available. But he knows the level you have to be at in games like this.

Valverde on staying unbeaten

Only two other teams have done it, Athletic Bilbao and Madrid and that was a long, long time ago, back in the 1930s.

No one has done it in the modern era. It’s important, for sure. It will be difficult to do, because there are still some tough games to come.

We want to get as many points as we can, we want to stay unbeaten and we want to beat Madrid. Even though we’re already champions, there’s still a lot to play for.