BARCELONA
HOW WILL QUIQUE SETIEN CHANGE
BARCA’S PLAY?
“The important thing is the philosophy,
to be clear about the way we play. My
objective is to win every title. There is
no other path but to improve every year
and achieve the maximum amount of
trophies possible. The best route to
victory is playing well. It’s important
to associate the two.
“I can only guarantee that Barca will
play an attractive game. I don’t have
an extensive CV. I don’t have trophies.
But what I have is that I’ve shown a
philosophy that I love. The only thing I
have done is to make Betis, Las Palmas
and Lugo play really good football.”
Relaxed, communicative and evidently
overjoyed to be appointed Barcelona’s
new coach, Quique Setien cut a most
impressive figure in his introductory press
conference at Camp Nou. Brought in to
fill the gap left by the sacking of Ernesto
Valverde, the 61-year-old – who was a
midfielder for Racing Santander, Atletico
Madrid and Spain in his playing days –
will undoubtedly be embraced by
the vast majority of Barca supporters.
And for one simple reason: Setien
is a football purist. A huge admirer of
ex-Barcelona coaches Johan Cruyff and
Pep Guardiola, he represents a welcome
return to old-school Blaugrana values, a
game based on high pressing, relentless
possession and quick passing. The plan
is for Setien to restore the intensity and
proactivity that his predecessor did not
appear to overly appreciate.
During Valverde’s two-and-a-halfUEFA CHAMPIONS LEAGUE Knockout stage
season reign Barca effectively lost their
DNA. Their performances often were
dull, conservative and uninspiring. The
entertainment levels plummeted. Setien
the romantic should, in theory, lift the
clouds and a more expansive style will
be on the cards.
A devotee of a three-man back
line while at Betis, Setien is unlikely
to definitively go with a defensive trio
at Barca. The main reason for this is
because it is mid-season and he does
not really have the time to put a newrearguard system in place. Also, the
4-3-3 formation is in the Barca blood
and he will want to avoid breaking this
sacred tradition.
Looking to put his stamp on his new
team, Setien will probably look to make
strides in two specific areas. He says he
wants more competition for first-team
places and to this end intends to give
greater opportunities to graduates from
the club’s La Masia academy. As a matter
of urgency he must also improve the
team’s positional discipline. On Valverde’s
Style...Quique Setien’s Barca are expected to play a more expansive game