Barça’s Setién has club’s backing

Barcelona, Spain, Jul 7 (efe-epa).- Barcelona’s manager Quique Setién on Tuesday said the club’s board was happy with his work and that he never felt his future was in doubt despite a string of mediocre results before a 1-4 victory over Villareal at the weekend.

“The club has assured me they’re happy with the work I’m doing and what I’m focusing on,” he told a press conference before Wednesday’s Catalan derby against Espanyol at the Camp Nou.

“I don’t just live in the moment, I try to see things with a little perspective,” he added.

Speaking to local radio on Tuesday, Barcelona club president Josep Maria Bartomeu said Setién would continue to be the first team’s manager next season.

“I don’t regret firing Ernesto Valvere, a change was needed and Quique Setién has brought fresh air and fresh ideas. He will stay on. I’m pretty happy with the evolution of the team, despite the draws,” he said.

“In the last two games I’ve seen improvements. If we don’t win LaLiga, we still have the Champions League.”

Questions over Setién’s future as manager, a role he took earlier this year having left Real Betis, arose after Barcelona managed to take just 14 of a possible 21 points since the return of the league following the forced Covid-19 hiatus.

Barça have split the points with Sevilla, Celta Vigo and Atlético Madrid, giving Real Madrid, who have won all of their seven matches since the league’s return, the advantage in pursuit of the title.

Setién said the team was playing well in other aspects of the game aside from goalscoring, adding that the media gave too much focus to “goals, victories and defeats” when determining the future of a manager at a club.

“That’s the circus, I accept that, but I won’t be convinced that the team is playing badly. I have my criteria having analyzed all the games and minutes played.”