Valverde heading in the Treble direction of Guardiola and Enrique

Wednesday's Copa del Rey semi-final perfectly illustrated the effectiveness of Ernesto Valverde's Barcelona, with Los Cules having just two shots on target and scoring three goals, and with that result the Spanish coach is heading in the direction of the respective trebles won by Pep Guardiola and Luis Enrique.

Valverde's charges played one of their most conservative matches under his stewardship at the Estadio Santiago Bernabeu, but booked their place in the Copa del Rey final for the sixth successive season.

It also marked the former Athletic Club coach's 100th match in charge of the Catalan giants, and he sits third in the list of victories behind the club's two most successful coaches of the current millennium.

The graphic below illustrates the wins, losses and draws of several Barcelona coaches, as well as the trophies they lifted in their first 100 matches in the role. Derrotas (defeats), empates (draws) and victorias (wins).

Barcelona supporters were treated to two quite phenomenal, if juxtaposing styles, from both Guardiola and Luis Enrique, with the latter preferring a much more vertical approach as opposed to the free-flowing genius sparked by the former Brescia midfielder.

Valverde is much more pragmatic, often willing to do away with wingers completely, much to the chagrin of the purists at the Camp Nou.

However, it's important to note that despite the overly cautious tag, Valverde's team has scored just one goal less than that of Guardiola's in the first 100 match time frame.

In terms of titles, the 55-year-old is level with Louis van Gaal with three, although he has fallen short of his two Spanish compatriots who both lifted five trophies in their first 100 matches in the dugout.

Johan Cruyff was a coach who brought a certain style to Barcelona and retains an almost mythical status in Catalonia, yet he won less trophies in his first century of matches as coach than Valverde has done, but it's impossible for Valverde's style to ever be remembered as fondly.

In signing a contract extension, the current incumbent is clear on his aims, he hopes to replicate the triumphs achieved by both Guardiola and Luis Enrique and win the treble.

He has a chance to do so this season with Los Cules still fighting on all three fronts, although the 0-0 draw away to Lyon has left supporters with some reservations over whether or not such a feat can be achieved with his somewhat cautious nature.