Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola has defended Barcelona manager Ernesto Valverde as pressure mounts on him to leave the club after losing vital matches to Liverpool and Valencia, calling the embattled gaffer “a spectacular coach”.

The Nou Camp club were dumped out of the Champions League by eventual winner Liverpool and losing the Copa Del Rey to Valencia

Despite leading the Spanish giants to successive La Liga titles, Valverde has been faced with increased pressure and there have been suggestions he could be sacked this summer after a poor end to the season.

But the Manchester City boss believes Valverde should keep his job.

“Valverde seems to me, to be a spectacular coach, beyond the friendship that unites us,” the former Barcelona manager told Catalunya Radio .

“He has done a very good job in two years.”

“It is true that Valverde lost in the Champions League, we all lose.

“A team that wins two consecutive leagues and makes good football, I celebrate that it continues. Barcelona is still true to its style.”