Ernesto Valverde

FC Barcelona chief coach Ernesto Valverde hasn't taken long to convince the doubters and make himself a hero at the Catalan football club. Despite beginning his time in charge at Barcelona with a defeat to Real Madrid in the Spanish Supercup in August, the former Athletic Club Bilbao tactician has been able to turn things around, reports Xinhua news agency. His side is unbeaten in the La Liga with a nine-point lead over Atletico Madrid and a 14-point advantage over traditional rivals, Real Madrid, whom they humiliated 3-0 in the Santiago Bernabeu Stadium just two days before Christmas.