Former Real Betis head coach is currently trying to put out fires on several fronts, with reports that star player Leo Messi is unhappy, poor form, and controversy over his treatment for World Cup winner Griezmann.
Setien – “incompetent and “out of his depth”
Barcelona manager Quique Setien has played down talk about Antoine Griezmann and said he was not afraid for his future. Former Real Betis head coach is currently trying to put out fires on several fronts, with reports that star player Leo Messi is unhappy, poor form, and controversy over his treatment for World Cup winner Griezmann. It came to mind on Tuesday when the Catalans held a 2-2 home draw by Atletico Madrid. Although the former Atletico was instructed to warm up throughout the second half, he was brought in with only the remaining seconds of the match. His continued presence among the replacements provoked an adverse reaction of the Griezmann family on social networks and sharp criticism from the media, with ex-Barca striker Christophe Dugarry arguing that the coach is “incompetent” and “out of his depth”.
Not everyone can play…
For the third time in four matches, the 29-year-old remained on the bench — and in each of these matches, the Catalans failed to win. However, Setien argued that the media were trying to make something out of nothing. “Antoine is fine. He is a great professional. I exchanged a few words with him,” Setien said. “He is an extraordinary, professional boy, and it will not affect him when he should play again, because he is a very mentally strong boy, and I am sure that we will have him 100% when he should return to the field. Griezmann is a great player and very important for the club and team. When he has played, you ask me about Ansu Fati.
“Not everyone can play, and I have to decide what my front line is and who I think makes or does not contribute to the team. I take into account the importance and hierarchy of each player. Still, in a club like Barca with the number of players. I know that some are going to be angry because not everyone is right, and this is a decision for which I have to take responsibility, and that’s what I’m doing”. Turning to his uncertain future, he said: “I already experienced it in other cases, it’s part of the circus. I know that there is a lot of noise around me, but I don’t listen to it, and I don’t read it. It is not the first time I have experienced it or that the coach has experienced such a situation when they don’t win the game.”