Quique Setien Insists He Still Has Control Over Barcelona Players

?Barcelona manager Quique Setién has stressed he isn’t lacking any authority over his players after an apparent rift opening up with his assistant, Eder Sarabia.

Setién’s right-hand man caught the eye for the wrong reasons during Barcelona’s recent 2-0 defeat in El Clásico and the first-team squad have apparently ?started to question Sarabia’s antics on the touchline.

But Setién has stressed there isn’t any problems between the Barcelona players and his assistant, suggesting the dissatisfaction with Sarabia’s behaviours during games has just been blown out of proportion.

Quique Setien

“I don’t know how you say we have no control,” Setién said, quoted by Marca. “We have no problems. We’re delighted with the dressing room.

“This is like an oil raft. Every time we speak to the players they are accepting and have an extraordinary attitude.

“Some give their opinion because we ask for it, but nothing more.

“I don’t think there’s much more to say about this. The only thing that Eder has done wrong is the way he expressed himself.

“People make a lot of interpretations based on his shouting, but it’s normal to shout on a football pitch to warn players or to show your frustration. I don’t care about it at all.

“Apologies have been given for the words that have been used and they shouldn’t be used at a club like this. But the rest is accepted.”


Setién’s future at Barcelona is already coming under serious scrutiny, despite only being appointed to replace Ernesto Valverde – who was popular among the club’s senior players – in January.

The 61-year-old has lost three of his 11 matches in charge of the club, while Barcelona’s future in the Champions League is still in the balance after only being able to salvage a 1-1 draw away at Napoli in the first leg of their last 16 tie.

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