New Barcelona manager Quique Setién has confessed that he wants to see his side dominate games and play an entertaining brand of football which will live up to Barcelona’s philosophy.
Ever since Johan Cruyff’s arrival in the dugout at Camp Nou in 1988, Barcelona have focused on a possession-based style of football which is all about overwhelming opponents with attacking play.
One of the key reasons behind the appointment of Setién was his love of a similar brand of football, and he told Barça TV that fans can expect that philosophy to continue during his time in charge.
“I like my team to play well, that’s the only way I can go home happy,” Setién explained. “If we win 1-0 undeservedly, I will be happy with the 3 points but I will go home annoyed because what you need is to feel good and do things properly. If you do it well, you will always have more chance of winning.”
When questioned where his love of that style of football came from, Setién revealed that it is all based around the kind of football he used to enjoy playing when he was a child.
“When I was a player it was very frustrating because I saw football in a different way to many of my coaches and I felt there was something missing,” he added.
“When I was a player I used to like to have the ball at my feet, to be involved, in the majority of matches I ended up touching the ball three or four times, I used to just run up and down. That’s when you start to realise what it is that you really like and that’s what you get across as a coach.
“I have always felt what I felt playing football in the playground at school when I enjoyed having the ball, not running after it. That’s has guided me in my life.”
Setién’s first chance to show fans what he is about will come on Sunday evening when Barcelona welcome Granada to Camp Nou.
His side already sit top of La Liga, but Setién must find a way to help Barcelona move on from a run of form which has seen them win just once in their last five matches in all competitions.
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