MADRID, Aug. 8 (Xinhua) -- Although he only played for 45 minutes in Barcelona's 5-0 win over Chapecoense in the Joan Gamper Trophy on Monday night, Gerard Deulofeu earned the praise of coach Ernesto Valverde.
Starting in the role previously occupied by the now departed Neymar, Deuloufeu, who returned to Barca this summer after the club took up their buy back option with Everton, scored the opening goal and teed up Leo Messi for Barca's third in a live-wire first half, to suggest that there is life after Neymar.
"Deloufeu can beat a player. He is quick and he is a player we can use well," said Valverde, who added the winger had only played 45 minutes "because he hasn't been training for long."
"He is quick and he gives us width," continued the Barca coach, adding that the winger would be in condition to play in the Spanish Supercup against Real Madrid on Sunday night.
"We have a lot of players who are able to play a central role and you always need someone balanced out wide. We also have attacking fullbacks and that is important in a side," explained Valverde.
Barca were on cruise control in a game which was also a homage to the Brazilian side, which lost nearly all of its players in a plane crash last year.
"We had good feelings on the pitch and tried to work hard in a game which was emotion because of who our rivals were. It was special for everything that happened to them, but we also needed the game to be important."
"I am satisfied, we created chances and I think we looked good and it helped us to prepare for the Supecup when there is a title at stake," concluded the Barca coach.
