Tata Martino Resigns As Barcelona Coach

The coach has apologised for the Camp Nou side's failure to secure a major trophy this season and confirmed he will be leaving the club this summer Barcelona have confirmed coach Tata Martino has left the club by mutual consent. The Argentine only took over last summer but has failed to land a major trophy in what has turned into a year to forget for the Catalan club. Barca’s last hope of silverware disappeared with Saturday’s 1-1 draw at home to Atletico Madrid. They went into the final-day contest needing a victory to land the Liga crown on a better head-to-head record than Atleti. All appeared to be going to plan when Alexis Sanchez put them in front in the first half but Diego Godin’s towering header at the start of the second denied the hosts. The reaction from the Blaugrana faithful at the final whistle was telling: applause for Atleti and whistles for the home players and staff. News of Martino’s departure followed soon afterwards with the club’s official Twitter feed stating: “Martino has announced that, by mutual agreement with the club, he has ceased being the coach of FC Barcelona.” Martino added at a press conference attended by himself and the club’s sporting director Andoni Zubizarreta: “I wanted to say that I have agreed with the club to end my time as Barcelona coach. “I was proud to coach this club. I admired the players from the outside and then the inside and will keep doing so in what will be a successful future. “We apologise to the fans for not reaching their expectations. We did not achieve the objectives the club is used to, and has done year after year. We tried until the end but met a rival better than us. “I want to congratulate Atletico Madrid for their season. They have done very well and deserve their success. “But above all I want to thank the group of players – to talk of their great qualities as players and as people too.”