Luis Enrique has praised the form and character shown by Claudio Bravo following the goalkeeper's departure from Barcelona to Manchester City.
The Chile international on Thursday moved - for an initial fee of €18million - to the Etihad Stadium, where he is expected to become first choice under former Barca head coach Pep Guardiola.
"Now I can talk about the goalkeeper," Luis Enrique said. "Saying anything before wouldn't have helped anything.
"I want to credit the work of Claudio Bravo for these two seasons. It was unique, exceptional work from a person who helped us a lot.
"I want to highlight the work of the three goalkeepers," he added, referring to Bravo, Ter Stegen and their understudy Jordi Masip.
"It's not just the quality of the goalkeepers but also their behaviour. It's been a difficult situation we've managed to deal with thanks to their exemplary behaviour."
"It's an incredible competition," Luis Enrique said of the tournament, which the Blaugrana triumphed in as part of the treble secured during his first campaign in charge in 2014-15.
"It's one we'd always love to win.
"We start as one of the favourites, like City, with all the curiosity aroused by Guardiola and Bravo.
"We knew before the draw that our group would be difficult."
Barca begin their latest assault on the Champions League at home to Celtic on September 13, with City due to visit Camp Nou a month later.
