The dilemmas facing Ernesto Valverde

Barça have already done their homework. La Liga won, the domestic double confirmed and the Clasico test passed with a good grade, there's little left for the team to do in their final three games. But there are still objectives to fight for. For example, Lionel Messi's Golden Shoe. And, of course, the record of all records: to end the La Liga season without a single loss. The question is whether the Barça players will now 'disconnect' after their efforts and think about the World Cup, which starts in June. This is where the doubts come in for Ernesto Valverde over how to manage these three games against Villarreal, Levante and Real Sociedad. Until now, the interests of the coach and the squad have gone hand in hand, without problems. Will it be the same on the home stretch? 

Valverde has three dilemmas on the table: to play with the regulars to achieve the record, to put some of the backup players in the shop window (Barça have to try and sell several players this summer: Digne, Aleix Vidal, Andre Gomes, Denis Suarez, Paco Alcacer...) or to give the academy a chance (overlooked recently). The logical thing, seeing how he's managed things until now, would be to rotate, but not massively. That's to say: to bring in a few players, like Digne, Vidal, Gomes, Denis or Alcacer, to try and boost their market price. But maitaining the spine of the team to try and end the season invincible. On Wedneday, against Villarreal, the doubts will be cleared up. But I struggle to see Messi on the bench with the Golden Shoe in play... Unless the Blaugrana star feels he needs a lot, a lot, a lot of rest before the World Cup.