On January 13, Barcelona fans were shocked by the surprise entry of Quique Setièn as the head coach of Barcelona FC—the La Liga table toppers. Football lovers and Barca fans have not yet come to terms with former coach Ernesto Valverde’s unexpected dismissal, since the performance of the club has been satisfying if not electrifying.
The decision to appoint Quique Setièn, former Spanish midfielder and former Real Betis coach, as Valverde’s successor was confirmed following a board meeting at Camp Nou on January 13.
Setièn, nicknamed El Maestro, who debuted in managerial role in 2001, has an experience of around 20 years in the field and is also one of the most experienced and popular coaches in Spanish football. His coaching career in Las Palmas and Real Betis made him quite popular in the football world, as both the teams displayed incredible performances under his guidance—a reason for hope for Barca fans.
What Setièn will bring to Camp Nou is being hotly discussed in the football world. Under Setièn, Las Palmas overcame the club’s relegation worries and finished in the middle of the table. Setièn led Real Betis to the sixth position in his first season and also helped them qualify for the Europa league.
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Setièn’s ideology of sticking to his philosophy has been the hallmark of his managerial career. In his first press conference after being anointed Barcelona’s manager, he said, “The important thing is the philosophy, to be clear what we are playing at. It's possible we will assess at some point a change with respect to the 4-3-3 or 4-4-2 which has been used lately." He also added that the “philosophy couldn’t change, but the formation could”.
Setièn's tactics of ‘conquering’ the midfield by packing the midfield, dominating possession and also focusing on the attacking side of the game with a high defensive line to keep the pressure on the opponents, will turn out to be a vital playing style for the Barcelona players.
Fascinated by the style of former Dutch coach Johan Cruyff, Setièn also says that Pep Guardiola is a reference for all. Setièn also has an eye out for youngsters and academy players to enhance the squad. He also guarantees that his team will play well under him.
