Get used to Quique
Barcelona have decided to relieve Quique Setien of his duties as manager following the club’s 8-2 defeat to Bayern Munich in the Champions League quarter finals.
It was the worst night in the club’s history and has, to the shock of absolutely nobody, proved the final nail in the coffin of Setién.
Barcelona have already decided to sack Quique Setién after the terrible defeat against Bayern Münich. He’ll not be the manager on next season. 🔴🔵 @SkySport #Barcelona #FCB
— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) August 14, 2020
Setién was hired midway through the 2019/20 season as a purity appointment, with the Barcelona fans and board growing increasingly frustrated with the team’s stodgy football under Ernesto Valverde.
The club’s first preference at the time was Xavi Hernandez, who is odds on favourite to be their new coach, but the former Barça midfielder turned them down.
Setién was brought in having coached Las Palmas and Real Betis to play slick, possession based football and the thinking was that even if it didn’t result in trophies, it might restore the club’s identity.
In the end, neither happened. They won no trophies and they still played terrible football. The squad needs overhauling but as always, the manager is first to go.
The interesting bit will be what comes next. Will the board face the honest truth about their recent mismanagement of the club and begin planning a rebuild? Or will they continue to squabble and sign, I don’t know, Granit Xhaka?
It’s going to be a fascinating next few months in Cataluña.