QUIQUE SETIEN took over as Barcelona coach with the express remit of bringing first-class entertainment back to the Spanish giants.
But not like this.
Inaki Williams’ 93rd minute header put Athletic Bilbao into the semi-finalsCredit: AFP or licensors
Ernesto Valverde was never warmly received by some at the club but at least he, by and large, got results.
In Thursday’s late 1-0 defeat to Athletic Club, dumping the Blaugrana out of the Copa del Rey at the quarter-final stage, Setien produced neither a result nor a sense of fun.
Aside from the Bilbao natives sent partying into the night while dreaming of a first major trophy since 1984, that is.
For Setien, perhaps the significance of Inaki Williams’ last-gasp header can be cancelled out somewhat by his new side’s defeat of a stunningly similar nature in the same stadium on the opening weekend.
But, in searching for an answer as to why history so keenly repeated itself, he will be asking all the same questions as his predecessor.
Barcelona forced Athletic into a series of definitive defensive actions without displaying the luxury swagger of champions.
Barcelona were left ruing their missed chancesCredit: AFP or licensors
New boss Quique Setien will not have long to prove he has what it takesCredit: Getty Images – Getty
Ansu Fati’s early effort was expertly blocked and there was also the pair of stops Unai Simon made with his legs when Antoine Griezmann and Lionel Messi simply had to score in the final ten minutes.
And among these creations was some nice football, most of which coming via the mercurial Argentine who was time and again crowded out as 49,000 Basques piled on his back.
Yet the begging question of exactly what Setien is doing to change this team is growing by the game.
Of course, Rome wasn’t built in a day but if the claims that Valverde’s more cautious approach was stifling the side were true, then why aren’t they playing like monsters unleashed?
The only beastly aspect to Barcelona’s play on Thursday night was their discipline, accruing six yellow cards on the pitch and another for Setien’s protestations from the dugout.
As the Blaugrana head back across northern Spain with one major whiff of a trophy gone, they might just wonder if their quest for entertainment will end up making them the laughing stock.
Quique Setien says he went from ‘strolling next to cows’ to Barcelona coach in 24 hours
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
