Lionel Messi clearly stated what he meant when the assistant coach tried to give him messages in the weekend’s La Liga settlement.
Goal is writing that Setien is living dangerously in Barcelona – and the situation did not get any better after the points split against Celta Vigo this weekend.
The newspaper emphasizes that their information says that Setien must either get a proper swing at football, win La Liga, or possibly the Champions League this season if he wants to continue on the project he started as late as January, when he took over after Ernesto Valverde as Barcelona- boss.
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Confrontation during the drinking break
Setien should now have “lost” the locker room at Camp Nou, which often means the end for a coach at this level.
It is a known case that certain players have a strong voice in Barcelona – especially players such as Lionel Messi and Gerard Pique. Players should be confused about the former Real Betis coach’s tactics and how he behaves in the training field. There should also be great dissatisfaction with a couple of the coach’s comments to the press.
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As there was a mandatory drinking break during the settlement between Barcelona and Celta Vigo on Saturday, one could see Setien’s assistant coach, Eder Sarabia, in conversation with several players. The assistant coach at one point tried to convey something to Messi, but the Argentine superstar regularly overlooked the coach, who reacted almost unbelievably:
Sarabia must be an exceptionally unpopular figure among Barcelona players.
– Lost confidence from the board
The two should also have exchanged some less pleasant words to each other in the wardrobe after the end of the match, but even the Setien situation is blown out of proportion:
– The reality is that there will always be controversy, as it is in life. It’s normal to disagree. But that’s how it’s always been, I wasn’t an easy player to deal with either. What we need to do now is to convince everyone of our common thinking, the Barcelona boss said at a press conference on Monday, according to Marca.
And added:
– I see this as something completely normal. We communicate well, and I don’t put too much emphasis on this.
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Photo: Lalo Villar (AP)
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Goal further claims to know that Setien has also lost confidence from the board, which had hoped that the January recruitment would bring stability following Valverde’s dismissal.
They also add that Ronald Koeman and Xavi Hernandes were both ahead of Setien on the wish list of the Barcelona board, but that the two both said no to the job offer.
– It is my dream to train Barcelona, but with respect to Valverde, I am here for Al Sadd. I have said in several interviews and the whole world knows that one day I want to train Barcelona, Xavi told me in January.
Barcelona’s former midfielder is currently training for club Al Sadd, who is a daily player in Qatar.
