Barcelona boss Ernesto Valverde said he was delighted to see the club’s fans celebrating at Camp Nou and revealed that bringing on Lionel Messi was always the plan.
The Blaugrana failed to score against Levante in a one-sided first half and Valverde sent on Messi to replace Philippe Coutinho at the break, with the Argentine then netting the winner – and title-clinching goal – in the second period.
It was put to Valverde that he was forced to send on Messi, but he told Movistar Partidazo: “No. That was planned.
"I was clear that he was going to play, but we have a game on Wednesday (against Liverpool).
“You have to be active, score goals from different areas and he gave us the title.”
Barca’s 1-0 win sealed La Liga with three rounds of matches remaining and gave the fans at Camp Nou a chance to celebrate a title at home for the first time since 2010.
“Winning the title by a distance and having games left, with the competitors we have, are difficult things to achieve," Valverde said.
"We have done it two years in a row and to see the fans enjoying themselves like that is amazing. We want to celebrate!”
Valverde’s side were holding on at the end and anxiety grew as Jose Luis Morales blasted over the bar and Enis Bardhi hit the post moments before the final whistle.
“It was nerves more than anything,” the Barca boss said. “They had a couple of chances, but the one that hit the post was incredible.
"We couldn’t finish it off, they believed in themselves and we got a bit nervous in the end. But luckily, we were able to see it through.”
