Barcelona coach Ernesto Valverde insists Sergi Roberto isn't a "dirty player".

Valverde was forced to defend Roberto after his tackle on Valencia's Andreas Pereira ruled the Valencia star out for a month.

Suggestions that Roberto was an aggressive player were immediately dismissed.

"Sergi Roberto is not under suspicion, he always goes for the ball," Valverde said to the gathered media.

"He isn't a dirty player, and in that particular circumstance the rival came off worse.

"Football people know Sergi Roberto."