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Quique Setien refusing to get involved with Lionel Messi-Eric Abidal spat

Quique Setien refusing to get involved with Lionel Messi-Eric Abidal spat
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Lionel Messi has criticised club director Eric Abidal for comments he made in a Spanish newspaper interview.

Barcelona manager Quique Setien believes there are problems at clubs all round the world in response to Lionel Messi's row with Eric Abidal.

Club director Abidal claimed in a Spanish newspaper that a number of Barcelona players were not working hard enough under Ernesto Valverde, who was sacked last month.

But in a lengthy Instagram post, Messi, who played alongside Abidal, took aim at his former team-mate for his comments.

Messi, the six-time Ballon d'Or winner, wrote: "Honestly, I don't like doing these things but I think that everyone has to be responsible for his acts and take responsibility for their own decisions.

"The players [are responsible for] what happens on the pitch, and we have been the first to recognise when we were not good. The people in the sporting directorate should also assume their responsibility and above all take ownership of the decisions they make.

"Finally, I think that when players are talked about, names should be given because, if not, we are all being dirtied and it feeds comments that are made and are not true."

The row between Messi and Abidal has cast a cloud over the Spanish giants, who trail La Liga leaders' Real Madrid by three points.

Soccer – UEFA Champions League – Final – Barcelona v Manchester United – Wembley Stadium
Eric Abidal, pictured lifting the European Cup, played alongside Messi at Barcelona (Nick Potts/PA)

But speaking ahead of his side's clash against Athletic Bilbao in the Copa del Rey on Thursday, Setien, who replaced Valverde, said: "I will focus on what I have to focus on, and that is football. As for everything else I am truly not interested.

"I know that there are problems in all clubs around the world, for sure. But there are things I will never be able to control so I need to focus on what I can focus on.

"Talk to me about football, please. I want to go to training, prepare well for the game and focus on things I need to focus on. Everything else doesn't help me to do my job."

Setien was dealt a huge injury blow on Tuesday when it was confirmed that Ousmane Dembele has been ruled out for the remainder of the season.

The France international, 22, suffered a hamstring tear on his return to training, having been sidelined since November with a thigh problem.

Setien added: "I am worried not about Dembele as a footballer, but more Dembele the person. He is an extraordinary kid, and he worked with intensity and desire to come back.

"I am very sad for him because he is going to be sidelined for four to five months without football which is what he likes the most. That is what really hurts me."

Barcelona will be overwhelming favourites to win the quarter-final tie against a Bilbao side that has failed to win in their last seven league matches.

But 38-year-old striker Aritz Aduriz, now in his third spell with the club, said: "It's a wonderful challenge. When you play football, you dream of having this kind of matches.

"I hope we can have a memorable night at San Mames. One always dreams about that."

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Barcelona manager Quique Setien pictured in January 2020
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Today's games header
Tables header RHS
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Barcelona31224584295570
2Real Madrid31206564313366
3Atletico MadridAtletico31189453262763
4Athletic Bilbao311512449252457
5Villarreal30149753401351
6Real BetisBetis3113994239348
7Celta Vigo31127124445-143
8Mallorca31127123137-643
9Real Sociedad31125143034-441
10Rayo Vallecano311010113438-440
11Getafe31109123128339
12Osasuna3181493644-838
13Valencia31910123547-1237
14Sevilla3199133442-836
15Espanyol3098133340-735
16GironaGirona3197153848-1034
17AlavesAlaves3179153345-1230
18Las PalmasLas Palmas3178163752-1529
19Leganes31610152948-1928
20Real ValladolidValladolid3144232173-5216


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