?Barcelona’s sporting director Eric Abidal has defended the Catalan club’s decision to hire Quique Setién, despite the Spaniard’s lack of winning experience in the Champions League.
?Former manager Ernesto Valverde was relieved of his duties in January, despite guiding Barça to two successive league titles and another title race this season, and Setién has been chosen as his successor.
The 61-year-old’s last managerial role was at mid-table Real Betis, and he has never won a major trophy during his career on the touchline. The new Blaugrana coach’s lack of winning experience does not concern chief Abidal however, who explained that he has worked with ‘coaches who had no experience and they then won everything,’ as reported by ?Mundo Deportivo.
“I do not agree with the subject of experience. I’ve had coaches who had no experience and they then won everything.
“So before making the decision, there are many factors to consider: the DNA, your staff. For me, his staff are doing a very important job.
“It is true that a short time has passed, but I am very satisfied with them.”
It is no secret that la Blaugrana is desperate to lift the prestigious European trophy for the first time in five years, having crashed out of the last two editions in humbling circumstances.
Barça threw away three-goal leads against Roma and ?Liverpool in successive years, meaning that Lionel Messi’s wait to add to his collection has rolled over for another year.
?With time running out for the Argentine star to lift the big trophy once more, Barça fans are hoping that Setién can lead the Spanish champions to glory this season.
Abidal believes that the former Betis coach is the right man for the job, and when questioned whether the players will adapt quickly to their new boss’ demands, the Frenchman insisted that the transformation in style ‘will work out much better’ in the long-term.
“If you look well, the pressing should not be done over a lot of metres.
“They are different exercises than what was previously done; we do it quite well and in time it will work out much better.”
Let’