Barcelona

Barcelona squad 'not convinced by Quique Setien's methods'

By Matt Law, Football Editor | 26 January 2020

Barca squad 'not convinced by Setien's methods'

Senior players in the Barcelona squad are not convinced by Quique Setien's methods since arriving as head coach, according to a report.

Senior players in the Barcelona squad are reportedly not convinced by Quique Setien's methods at the club.

The former Real Betis boss was recently confirmed as Ernesto Valverde's replacement at Camp Nou and won his first two matches in charge against Granada and Ibiza.

The Spanish champions suffered a 2-0 defeat at Valencia in La Liga on Saturday afternoon, though, and according to Sport, there is already unrest in the dressing room.

The report claims that the new manager's desire to change to a 3-5-2 formation has caused problems in the camp as 'some players feel unprotected'.

Injuries to Luis Suarez and Ousmane Dembele has left Setien short of options in the final third of the field, and Antoine Griezmann has largely been paired alongside Lionel Messi in attack since the change of management.

The Barca boss admitted after the defeat to Valencia that his players were 'poorly positioned' in the first half of the clash at the Mestalla.

The La Liga giants will be looking to book their spot in the quarter-finals of the Copa del Rey when they welcome Leganes to Camp Nou on Thursday night.