Quique Setién reflects on difficult Barcelona coaching tenure

Former FC Barcelona manager Quique Setién has reflected on his difficult tenure at the club, describing it as one of the most challenging periods of his professional career. In an interview on the podcast ‘El que marca gana’, Setién admitted that he struggled to maintain his true personality and professional relationships within the Catalan dressing room.

Setién noted that the COVID-19 pandemic further complicated his experience at Camp Nou. Despite the difficulties and the calls for his departure, he stated he did not regret accepting the position. He also shared a personal moment with Lionel Messi, telling the player that he had spent 14 years of his life waiting to watch him play for Barcelona.

Critiquing the technical understanding of certain players, Setién remarked, ‘I have previously trained players worth 80 million euros who do not understand football,’ referring to a lack of ability to read and interpret the flow of the game regardless of financial value or talent.