Former FC Barcelona coach Quique Setien has reflected openly on his spell at the club, pointing to the heavy 2-8 defeat against Bayern Munich in the Champions League as the decisive moment that led to his dismissal in August 2020.
Setien was appointed as manager in January 2020 as the Blaugrana brought him in as a replacement for Ernesto Valverde.
However, his stint was short-lived and ill-fated, with the 2-8 defeat to Bayern Munich being considered one of the darkest nights in the history of the club.
Setien on what went wrong
Speaking on Senen Moran’s YouTube channel (h/t Mundo Deportivo), Setien explained that the condition he inherited the team in played a major role in his struggles.
“The main problem I had was that they’d been winning everything for 14 years, and when you win everything and know that you win 90% of your matches with relative ease, mentally I think you relax and don’t prepare thoroughly,” he said.
“But of course, when the decisive matches come around, you’re not 100% and you struggle. And then, they were no longer at the competitive age to maintain the level they’d had in recent years,” Setien added.
Despite the outcome and the Bayern Munich disaster, Setien defended his work during that period.
“Given the circumstances I found myself in, I think we did well. It’s true we had an accident, which always happens in football, that ended my time there and would have ended anyone’s,” he acknowledged.
Continuing, he added: “Was it that result in Lisbon, against Bayern Munich? Was that what was the final straw in the situation the club was going through, and which I had to pay the price for?”
“Even so, if I’d known everything that was going to happen, I’d have signed anyway. Because for you, it’s a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to coach players like the ones I coached that year and at a club that was surely, at that time, the best in the world.”
Setien endured a tough time on the Barcelona bench. (Photo by Rafael Marchante/Pool via Getty Images)
Setien insisted that the experience did not leave lasting scars, saying: “I’ve completely put it behind me; it hasn’t left me with any trauma whatsoever. Brazil lost a final 1-7 to Germany on home soil.
“You learn from everything in life, and this is just another situation you have to accept. The important thing is to pick yourself up and keep going,”
At the same time, Setien admitted that, in hindsight, he might have handled certain decisions differently.
“It was almost a relief. At first, you’re hopeful, because you think you can get through the tie. But in the end it didn’t happen; we lost in every respect, but it doesn’t matter,” he reflected.
Continuing, Setien explained: “I’ve always wondered what would have happened if I’d made different decisions in the face of the circumstances that unfolded since I arrived. You’ve had to make decisions and they certainly weren’t the right ones.
“I should have been more true to my principles and my own way of doing things. But I was still just the manager; the players are what matter. People pay to come and watch them, so you have to be very clear about the decisions you make.”
He concluded by highlighting the broader responsibility of managing a historic institution like Barcelona, saying:
“There’s another important aspect, which has to do with the club. It’s not about who’s in charge, but rather an institution with over a hundred years of history, and the important thing is to leave the club in the best possible shape.
“It’s not just about winning or losing at any given moment; there are many other factors you have to consider when deciding whether to join and, if so, how.”
