Setien talks Messi, La Masia & walking with cows at Barcelona unveiling

Photo by Xavier B. / AFP7 / Europa Press Sports via Getty Images

The new boss has replaced Ernesto Valverde

Quique Setien was officially presented as Barcelona’s new boss on Tuesday after replacing Ernesto Valverde at the helm at the Camp Nou.

The 61-year-old has signed his contract with the Spanish champions and then held a press conference which was pretty interesting.

Setien made his surprise and delight at joining Barcelona very clear, but it’s his comments about the young players and La Masia that will really endear him to supporters.

Here are the best bits

Setien on joining Barcelona

Not in my wildest dreams could I have ever imagined this. I’m someone who is very emotional and today is a very special day for me. I have to thank the club. I’m excited about this challenge and this project. Yesterday I was walking beside the cows in my village and now today I’m at Barcelona coaching the best players in the world.

Setien on meeting the players

The willingness they have is extraordinary. We are absolutely sure that we are going to understand each other very quickly. A lot of the things we will propose to them they already know. We will try as hard as we can to improve whatever we can and to get the best performance out of everyone.

Setien on Messi

I said not just to Messi but to all the players. Obviously he’s a unique case, but I’ve enjoyed a lot watching Barcelona over the last 12-13 years watching Barca, watching them on the TV, watching this team, these players. It’s lovely to really enjoy football. I’m still not entirely conscious of what it means to coach the best player in the world. One thing is admiration and another thing is that everyone has to be in their place.

Setien on La Masia

Obviously this club has an extraordinary academy. I don’t know in depth the majority of the players but they will be training with us and participating and the players in the first team need to be clear that the talent that is coming up will get the chance if they deserve it. I will make a special effort to take care of these kids. Because you can always have a new kid who comes through and adds energy to everything. Normally that provides a boost to the squad and that means those who are up at the top don’t relax either and that’s very important. That sends out a message to all the kids who are in the lower ranks of the club, it’s a message I’ve always sent out and complied with. If they really progress and earn their spot then they are perfectly able to play in the first teamm.

Setien on playing style

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. We need to look at a lot of things. The philosophy doesn’t change, but the formation could.

Source: barcablaugranes.com