Barcelona full-back Jordi Alba has followed Lionel Messi in criticising the club's sporting director Eric Abidal for comments regarding Ernesto Valverde's exit.

Abidal suggested that one of the reasons for Valverde's sacking was because the players were not happy, to which Messi responded by challenging the Frenchman to "give names" on social media rather than "tainting everyone's name".

The statement was an uncharacteristic one from Messi, and now Alba has joined his captain in condemnation by admitting that Abidal's comments were unhelpful and not needed.

"The club gets enough shit thrown at it from the outside so we shouldn't be throwing shit at ourselves," Alba told reporters.

"Abidal was a player, he is loved by the fans and that's why he should know what it's like inside the dressing room and how players feel."

Barcelona were top of the league when they sacked Valverde, but since then they have fallen behind Real Madrid and been knocked out of the Copa del Rey under new boss Quique Setien.