JAKARTA - Former Barcelona boss Quique Setien revealed that Lionel Messi is difficult to control. In an interview for El Pais reported by MARCA, Monday, November 2, Setien sat down with Vicente del Bosque and discussed his time at Camp Nou, as well as his relationship with Messi.
"There are players who are regularly arranged, and Leo is one of them," said Setien.
"You also have to remember that he is the best player in history and who do I try and change him as a player? I can't do anything if the people at the club have accepted him for what he is and have not changed him over the years."
Setien continued, he was not the only player he had to manage. There is another side and it is much more complicated. It's something that is built into sportsmen as we saw in Michael Jordan's documentary, The Last Dance. He saw things he didn't expect to see.
"He's very quiet but he makes you see the things he wants. He doesn't say much, but he looks," Setien said of Messi.
Del Bosque remembers something that Tata Martino, the former Barca coach, told Messi.
"I know that if you call the president, you can fire me at any time," Del Bosque said of Martino's words.
Setien responded to this, albeit with a slightly defensive tone. "I don't need to be told what Martino or anyone else said," he replied. "I've been there. I've had enough experience to know exactly what this person and the others are like.
As we all know, the 62-year-old man replaced Ernesto Valverde in January 2020. He was sacked after Los Blaugrana were hauled by Bayern Munich 8-2 in the Champions League.
"Since leaving (from Camp Nou), I myself know that at certain times other decisions must be made, but there is something stronger than you: the club. What is stronger than the president, the players and the coach are the clubs and the fans," he continued. Setien.
"They are the people you respect the most and you have to do your best for them. There are millions of people who think that Messi, or any other player, is more important than the club and the coach. This player, and the people around him, have won. everything for 14 years.
"Messi is the best of all time. There are more than great players who are really good, but no one has the consistency he has over the years."
Reflecting on his seven months at Barcelona, Setien admitted that he deviated somewhat from the philosophy he adopted. such as in Las Palmas and Real Betis.
"Actually I can't be myself, and I can't do what I have to do," said Setien.
"It's true I could make drastic decisions, but they won't sort anything out in my short time [there] and with the situation after the lockdown."
The humiliating 8-2 defeat to Bayern will live long in the minds of many, as will Setien.
"You are really hurt after a defeat like that," he said. "You made history with that defeat. I took my share of the mistake. One day I will write about it.
"After being fired, I found that the decision to get rid of me was made prior to this defeat."
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