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Through JdP's eyes
| Setien's tenure under the loop![Through JdP's eyes| Setien's tenure under the loop[THREAD] #JdPAnalysis](https://pbs.twimg.com/media/Efp1NlaXkAAQhvq.jpg "Through JdP's eyes| Setien's tenure under the loop[THREAD] #JdPAnalysis")
Seven months after his appointment on January, Quique Setien has been officially sacked on the August 17th, 2020. A chaotic tenure hard to evaluate considering all the events that have happened. Feel free to Like/RT/share.
We all remember the first quotes. Cruyffismo was thought to come back to Barcelona after almost three years of Valverde's pragmatism. Promises of meritocracy including La Masia grabbed the fan's attention, to the point Setien was almost hailed as the new saviour.
The first match had been promising. Despite the little margin (1-0) over Granada at home, Quique's new ideas seemed to attract the fans, bringing some fresh air in the culé's tired mind, sick of Valverde. Roberto was deployed as RCB, almost converting the game to a 3-5-2.
Alas, the second match was less pleasing. Barcelona was paired against the modest Ibiza - without disrespect - and struggled. It's only later winners that allowed Barcelona to finally pass through. It's also the first match where Puig hadn't played well when given the chance.
Things deteriorated following Valencia's loss away from home. Collado received 10 minutes, his last of the season despite getting the call up in multiple ocassions. Aimless possesion, especially around the final third was critiqued like never before - Valverde vibes for culés.
Followed then the Sarabia episode. Setien's tenure can't be resumed on the pitch, for off the pitch issues were the biggest problems.
“In a big club, 70% will not be about football but about off the pitch issues. Only 30% will be actual football” ~Johan Cruyff.
“In a big club, 70% will not be about football but about off the pitch issues. Only 30% will be actual football” ~Johan Cruyff.
Every culé remembers the scandal with Sarabia, seen agitated and yelling at the players. Players started avoiding Sarabia feelings disrespect while Sétien tried to calm down the fire. Something he has failed to do which later showed against Celta Vigo at the break.
This shouldn't come as a surprise though. If Lucho dared to bench heavyweights, Valverde was the complete opposite. Powers was given to the players and that's what gained him the locker room's support, even after Roma and Anfield.
With SĂ©tien, it's much more complicated. Having ignored the important of winning the dressing room's support first, heavyweights turned against him. When you change coaches, players will take over in terms of authority by themselves. And this is exactly what happened.
Amongst them, Lionel Messi. The captain had already showed immense support to Valverde. Was it b/c of complacency or his dip in form at the beginning of the year? Both. What's sure, is that him saying they didn't play well enough to win the UCL was a big move.
Not only him, but Suarez fired shots as well as interviews. We obviously don't know the full accounts of trainings, but they surely must have been heated. Trainings were more intensive under Setien which eventually caused injuries at the beginning.
In February, another off the pitch problematic was confronted to Setien: The Barçagate. Leaks were published by @La_SER suggesting Bots were created by the board for 1M€ in order to defamation against Pique, Messi, Xavi, Font and even Puyol.
But this wasn't all. If the audit denied the majority of the claims, hundred of thousands were confirmed to go into this affair. Illegal or not, this was surely out of common ground for media experts.
Followed the COVID-19 pandemic. For three months,there was no football. More time for Quique, but also more about injuries, including Umtiti's & FdJ's. Results dipped, too. From first with two points in advance for the Blaugranas to finished second, over five points behind.
Setien gradually abandoned his sayings and became pragmatic himself, without getting the results. Memorable losses include the 0-1 against Bilbao at the San Mamés in the UCL QF, the 0-2 at the Bernabeu, and, of course, the 2-8, the latter engraved forever in history.
La Masia was rarely used. Reports report Setien was to be sacked irrespective of the result. He simply was the scapegoat. Wrong perceptions, good idea, wrong execution at the wrong time in the wrong context. This is how Setien will unfortunately will be remembered.
