BARCELONA – Focused on Celta, whom he presented as “a very difficult opponent”, optimistic and convinced that Real Madrid can click “one or two games” that can give Barcelona back the lead, understanding that the League can “decide the last day “, revealing that his team is” in a good moment “and implying that Riqui Puig may have a good opportunity attending to the casualties, Quique Setién could not avoid talking about Arthur … Although he did avoid getting wet by him .
The Brazilian was the main point of his press conference and if he heard the coach’s words, he should have understood nothing. Or maybe everything. Setién considered him a “very valid” player and assured that he “knew nothing” of his departure, but he hinted at that departure when he waited for his best version to “leave a good memory”.
He praised him for his way of controlling the ball but reproached him for not knowing “playing it with one or two touches” and warning that everything that is happening “is abnormal” due to the coronavirus crisis, he stated that he will count on him until the last day.
These were the most outstanding phrases of the Barcelona coach at the press conference:
Celtic
“It is going to be a difficult game and I hope to get it ahead, but it will be difficult, undoubtedly because it is a team that has improved a lot in recent games, that does not fit goals and has been doing well.”
“All the teams would like to defend very well and attack well with the ball. I suppose Celta will try to do that. He is doing well in defense and in attack he is very talented, players who know what to do with the ball and have that inspiration that makes them different. “
“Rafinha is playing very well, at a great level, like the team that has raised spirits with the latest results. The players are giving a level of their potential and Rafinha is showing it.”
“In Celtic there are players that I like very much, that I have always liked.”
Arthur
“In principle, I still count on him. He is a player that we are going to need, like everyone else. He is going to travel and have options to play tomorrow. You have to try to avoid all this noise and if he has to play, try to give the best of himself. “
“This is happening is abnormal. The reality is that any player must be clear that the season is not over, that there are very important matches and I am sure he wants to finish well, win a title and leave a good memory here.”
“There are players who at a certain moment, and I speak in general, sign for a club with high expectations and then do not bear fruit. I do not know if this will happen to him but it is something that happens with many teams and players. There will be fans who think that his departure is a good opportunity and others who believe that he should endure. “
“Circumstances have brought us to this stage but I understand the total professionalism of the players. Of him of course. We are only one piece of this gear, we do not have much to say and only accept what comes and how it comes.”
“I cannot speak of when he was not with me. Since I have been, Arthur has put a lot of interest in doing what we have asked him. We have emphasized him a lot and he has done it, although perhaps he has lacked some continuity. It is not easy sometimes change a player that other coaches said he did well what he did. “
“When they suddenly tell him that he has to play two touches, it costs him. He may have lacked continuity, but he is on the right track and that will help him for the future. Know when you can hold the ball or release it quickly “
“Have you next year? Hypothesis I am not going to comment on anything. I am in constant communication with the technical secretariat but with the schedule we have, I do not ask for too many explanations.”
Riqui Puig
“It could be a good time for him. He will have more options due to the absence of important players and that opens up more possibilities for him, although he already had them before. We consider that it was not the time and that you should value in daily work and seeing what that you can give at a certain time. “
“Pressure to play? I am not very aware of what is said and spoken. There are so many opinions that few people agree. I listen but there are other issues that influence me when making decisions. I I move for objective things, seeing what one player or another can give. “
“Riqui has had a significant progression in the time we have been here. The attitude has always been excellent but there have been things that we have had to teach him because of the needs of the team and thinking about what he can contribute.”
“It has been adapting and lately we have already seen that it has given a level with its commitment to what we have asked for. It is a process in which some take a little longer and others less. The important thing is to maintain that progression and think that you are in the Barcelona”.
The League
“Of course I am still convinced that there are seven games left to play and that it is very difficult for Madrid to win all of them. We have tied one, they have not yet but this is a game that surprises us.”
“If Madrid loses two games, one less would be enough for us. They are pools that we can do. I am interested in thinking that with this equality, I think that they will not win all the games.”
“They are in a good moment, like us, but I trust that they will puncture. They have co-involved games but it is that any game can be complicated. It is being seen how tight the results are and I understand that it will wait until the last day. It is true that now there are two complicated days, but that is in general “.
“We just have to look ahead, focus on what we can control and think that in the end, in difficult circumstances, we can finish a season in a complicated way.”
– .
