“Lionel Messi is difficult to lead”
Stand: 5:17 p.m. | Reading time: 3 minutes
Probably the best footballer in the world is not easy to lead – Lionel Messi
Those: AP / Alvaro Barrientos
Lionel Messi is FC Barcelona, and FC Barcelona is Lionel Messi. The superstar is the secret boss in the club. His former coach Quique Setién reveals how difficult it is to deal with the Argentine.
Lionel Messi was served. He left the square and kept shaking his head. The FC Barcelona superstar kept his eyes fixed on the lawn until he disappeared into the catacombs. The 31-year-old had every reason to be angry. His team had once again delivered a poor performance in the 90 minutes before and only played 1-1 at Deportivo Alavés.
After six match days, Barça are in twelfth place with six points. Behind teams like Getafe, Granada and Elche. A placement that is unworthy of the glorious club. A placement that also corresponds to the current situation in Barça.
At least since Barcelona was shot 8-28 out of the stadium in the semi-finals of the Champions League last August, the Catalans have been in chaos. The massive defeat meant the end for the then coach Quique Setién.
“The 2: 8 damaged me as a coach”
“This defeat really damaged me as a coach. You will go down in Barça’s history with this defeat, ”said Seitén to the Spanish newspaper“ El País ”. He takes his share of the guilt on himself: “One day I’ll write about it. After getting kicked out, I found out that the decision had been made before 8-2. I found out everything. “
Quique Setien had to go after the 2: 8 against Bayern
Source: pa / NurPhoto / Jose Breton
Setién also speaks openly about his relationship with Messi in an interview with “El País”. “There are players who are not easy to lead. Leo is difficult to lead. He’s the best player ever, who am I to change him? They accepted it for years and didn’t change it, ”said Setién. Sentences that make it clear that Messi is the boss, not the coach. “He is above the president, the player, the coach. It’s the club and its fans. They are the ones you owe the greatest respect and you have to do what is best for the club as a whole. “
Most recently, club president Josep Bartomeu stumbled upon Messi. Bartomeu had made himself unpopular with many members and fans because he had fallen out with Messi after being out of the Champions League. The 57-year-old preceded a vote of no confidence and resigned.
He left a club with major financial problems. According to Spanish media reports, Barça has got into economic distress due to the Corona crisis. The club is threatened with bankruptcy in January if the players do not forego 190 million euros in salary. Reductions of 30 percent would have to be agreed by November 5 at the latest in order to save the sum. Most recently the professionals had refused.
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