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Football

14th Aug 2020

Quique Setien faces the sack from Barcelona following Bayern Munich thrashing

Barcelona have decided to sack Quique Setien following Barcelona's 8-2 thrashing at the hands of Bayern Munich, in news that will shock no-one

Reuben Pinder

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.

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.