Valverde: We deserved to qualify for the cup final

Barcelona coach Ernesto Valverde believed his side were good value for their Copa del Rey final place after they beat Valencia 2-0 at the Mestalla.

Goals from Philippe Coutinho and Ivan Rakitic put the tie to bed after a 1-0 first leg lead.

"We faced a team who were very motivated with a city behind them," he explained.

"In the first leg, Valencia didn't let us score many, in the second we have dominated despite them having good chances, but we deserve to progress.

"We dominated the first game but weren't clinical, today they threatened on the counter, we played our cards.

"I would have preferred to suffer a lot less and have everything in front of us before, Valencia were very dangerous on the counter and created problems with good players.

"The move where they hit the post could have put them through."

The coach was quizzed on his tactical decisions, such as selecting Gerard Pique despite injury doubts and replacing Andre Gomes with Philippe Coutinho at half-time.

"[Pique] was feeling good and we decided to risk him, in the end he was overworked and we took him off.

"I saw the change [Coutinho replacing Gomes] clearly, we had to move things up.

"Andre was helping us with strength but we needed more going forwards and to do something with the domination we had.

"I normally wait to make changes, but this time I saw it clearly."

The game means that Barcelona have reached their fifth consecutive Copa del Rey final.

"Knowing the demands of Barcelona, it is important to get to finals," Valverde continued.

"We have beaten good teams like Celta Vigo, Valencia and Espanyol in this Copa del Rey campaign, I'm very happy.

"Barcelona have played many finals but it's the second with me in charge, I hope to be luckier than in the first.

"All we have in front of us is a Copa del Rey final, our intention is to focus on LaLiga now and then the Champions League, where we have a difficult game ahead.

"Now we have the game against Getafe ahead of us, my players are focused on what they will demand of us."

Speaking on the always controversial topic of where the final should be played, Valverde offered only one thought.

"I played a Copa del Rey final in the stadium of the opposition [with Athletic Club at the Estadio Camp Nou in 2015] and I wouldn't like to repeat that," added.