Neymar Departure Was 'A Difficult Moment,' Says Barcelona Boss Ernesto Valverde

Barcelona manager Ernesto Valverde has admitted Neymar's £200 million departure to Paris Saint-Germain back in the summer was "a difficult moment" for the club. 

The Catalan giants have managed to thrive without the Brazilian, but Valverde, who was appointed just two months before Neymar's departure, said it was a problem when he left the club, per Barcelona's official website (via Marca): "Neymar's departure was a difficult moment for the club. We can't deny that."

The Brazilian's exit from the Camp Nou came after a season in which Barca had lost the La Liga title to Real Madrid and been knocked out of the UEFA Champions League at the quarter-final stage.

Without him they then proceeded to lose to Real in the Spanish Super Cup, and many were predicting a runaway triumph for Los Blancos in the 2017-18 season with Barca in turmoil, per AS.

Instead, Barcelona are unbeaten in 17 top-flight fixtures this term and sit nine points clear at the top of the table and 14 ahead of Real.

Lionel Messi has been the linchpin of Valverde's side, and Luis Suarez has rediscovered his goalscoring form recently.

The pair have netted 25 La Liga goals this season, and summer signing Paulinho has chipped in with six.

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Remarkably, though, Barca have produced their impressive form without Ousmane Dembele, who was signed from Borussia Dortmund in the summer as Neymar's replacement.

The 20-year-old picked up a serious thigh injury during his first La Liga start for Barca in September, which has kept him sidelined ever since.

He is almost ready to return to action now, and Valverde said the team will need to adapt when he is back in the side, per Marca: "We will assess things. We must take into account the positions occupied by both Leo (Messi) and Luis (Suarez). We have to adapt, but we know that Messi can play anywhere, we want to position him in a way where he spears our attacks."

Valverde has regularly operated with a 4-4-2 system this season, playing Messi and Suarez in attack.

When Neymar was in the side, the preferred formation of former manager Luis Enrique was 4-3-3, with Suarez as the No. 9 and the Brazilian and Messi on the flanks.

Valverde may opt for a return to such a system when Dembele returns to action, but he will likely be cautious in meddling with an approach that has proved effective this season.