Barca coach Setien plays down talk of player unrest

MADRID: Barcelona coach Quique Setien insists his relationship with the players is good, despite reports of unrest in the dressing room and tension between Lionel Messi and Setien’s assistant, Eder Sarabia.

An angry exchange of views reportedly followed Barca’s 2-2 draw at Celta Vigo on Saturday, a result that allowed Real Madrid to go two points clear at the top of La Liga by beating Espanyol.

Footage also appeared to show Messi pointedly ignoring Sarabia, with the Argentinian turning away from Setien’s number two as he tried to give him instructions during a cooling break.

A lack of togetherness comes at a bad time given Barcelona host in-form Atletico Madrid on Tuesday, when another slip could effectively concede the title.

“There are always controversies, like in life, because we all have our own way of seeing things and thinking,” said Setien in a press conference on Monday.

“But this is normal. I was not an easy player to deal with either. You have your own vision and the important thing is to convince everyone to defend a common cause.

“But I see it as something natural. I think the communication is good and I don’t attach importance to specific incidents.”

Barcelona were leading 2-1 against Celta at Balaidos with two minutes left when Iago Aspas scored from a free-kick given away by Gerard Pique.

On the suggestion of arguments in the dressing room after the match, Setien said: “When you don’t win and when there is a one-off moment like that free-kick, everyone looks for something. This is the circus we’re involved in.

“We are concerned with more general aspects. The relationship with the players is good. There are specific moments when there may be differences of opinion but I don’t perceive any problem that is worth mentioning, far from it.”

Setien confirmed another meeting took place with the players on Sunday. “Yesterday we talked about many things but we focused on football, on doing things better, on this situation we are in where we are not converting superiority into goals, which then results in nervousness and frustration.”

Barcelona have been accused in the past of pandering to senior players like Messi, Pique and Sergio Busquets, who have all achieved incredible success at the club.