Barcelona coach Ernesto Valverde admits he is under pressure ahead of his side's Champions League clash at home to Slavia Prague on Tuesday, but says he expects a positive reaction from his team after Saturday's 3-1 loss at Levante.
Valverde's side remain top of La Liga after Real Madrid failed to beat Real Betis at home on Saturday night, but the 55-year-old is under increased scrutiny after three defeats in 2019-20 already and some poor performances away from home.
"It's clear that when you lose, there is more pressure," he said in Monday's pre-match press conference. "We know what it means when you lose with this team.
"It generates rough waters, that's how it is, and I consider it to be good for us because it obliges us to react.
"We are always under pressure to produce because there are rough waters even when you win and you haven't had a perfect game.
"We usually react well and I expect tomorrow to be the same."
Barca beat Slavia 2-1 in their last Champions League game, but only after a disappointing display in the Czech capital which featured a number of super saves from goalkeeper Marc-Andre ter Stegen. Meanwhile, all three of the club's league defeats have come on the road this season.
"We started poorly away from home," Valverde said. "We had improved and now we have lost again.
"But that doesn't mean we will keep on losing. Let's see if it was just a rock in the road and if we can keep on winning away from home like we did before Levante."
Valverde also admitted his team needs to be better in certain areas, but said: "I believe that the things I feel we need to improve are not to be made public, but to form part of the self-criticism in other places. Internally, where it's effective."
