5 Barcelona players who have improved under Ernesto Valverde this season

#3 Samuel Umtiti

Umtiti has been a rock at the back for Barca

The reaction of Barcelona fans to Umtiti’s injury in the 2-2 draw with Celta Vigo on 2nd December 2017 told the story of a player who had come to mean a lot to the fans.

The French international who had joined last season from Olympique Lyonnais in a €25 million deal had a below average first season thanks in no small part to the madness that enveloped the Nou Camp last season, a madness that consumed Luis Enrique and made a team of good players look decidedly average.

The 24-year-old has been like a new signing this season and up until he got injured, was staking a claim for being the best center-back in Europe. Pacy, strong with an immaculate sense of timing for making tackles, Umtiti’s game intelligence and technique has been further enhanced by the patient coaching of Valverde.

Until his injury, Barcelona had only conceded 4 goals in all competitions and alongside Pique, goalie Marc-Andre Ter Stegen and left-back Jordi Alba, the defense was looking solid and impregnable.Cules were very happy when he made his return in the Copa Del Rey game against Espanyol and will be hoping he can regain his form as soon as possible