Quique Setien’s Immediate Future Decided After ‘Crucial’ Barcelona Meeting

Quique Setien
Barcelona boss Quique Setien | Soccrates Images/Getty Images

Quique Setien will stay on as Barcelona manager for the remainder of the campaign following an emergency meeting at Barça HQ.

La Blaugrana saw Real Madrid regain the La Liga title on Thursday night as they overcame Villarreal 2-1 in the Spanish capital – extending their lead at the summit to seven points in the process as Barça fell to a shock home defeat to Osasuna.

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Real Madrid secured their 34th Spanish league title on Thursday night | Denis Doyle/Getty Images

Setien’s already unstable future was thrust into significant doubt, with some reports suggesting he may be forced out the door before Barça’s final La Liga fixture of the campaign at Alaves on Sunday afternoon.

But Spanish news outlet Sport understand the 61-year-old’s short-term future in Catalunya is secure.

Club president Josep Maria Bartomeu held an emergency meeting with Setien after the recent defeat, with Bartomeu confirming that Barca have no intention of sacking the former Betis man before the end of the season and, as such, the manager will sit in the dugout for their Champions League clash against Napoli. The only way this will change is if the Spaniard decides to resign before the competition restarts next month.

However, Setien was understood to be ‘hurt’ following the Osasuna defeat and him walking away shouldn’t be ruled out entirely.

The former Las Palmas boss thought Lionel Messi’s strong words post-match were a direct criticism of his time in charge thus far, with the Argentine describing his side as a ‘very irregular team that lets its head drop too easily’.

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Lionel Messi cut a frustrated figure in the Osasuna defeat – highlighted in his post-match interview | David Ramos/Getty Images

Nevertheless, after a gruelling domestic schedule since Spanish football returned last month, the Barcelona players will earn a six-day break following the conclusion of their clash at Alaves on Sunday.

Training will then resume for ahead of their European encounter with Napoli at Camp Nou on 8 August and if they get past Gennaro Gattuso’s side, they’ll travel to Lisbon to compete in last eight where a meeting with an imperious Bayern Munich outfit is likely – providing they maintain their 3-0 first-leg advantage against Chelsea.

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