Spark plugged
Barca failed to ignite since season resumed, says setien
BARCELONA: Barcelona coach Quique Setien admitted his side have struggled to get going since the season returned following the three-month hiatus due to the Covid-19 pandemic, after a scrappy 1-0 win at home against Athletic Bilbao.
Barca needed a late goal from substitute Ivan Rakitic to see off a determined Athletic side and although they picked up a third win in four matches since the season re-started, they again failed to sparkle.
“When teams offer you little space you have to be very precise and agile and we have been lacking that since we returned,” Setien told a virtual news conference.
It’s not been easy and we are missing something overall, a bit of spark.
“It’s not been easy and we are missing something overall, a bit of spark. Our opponents have a lot to do with this because they are sticking together and leaving hardly any space and we’re finding it hard to open them up.
“But I think we’ll start to find it easier the more the season goes on.”
Barca thrashed Real Mallorca 4-0 on their return after the long break but looked rusty in last week’s 2-0 victory over struggling Leganes and on Friday were held 0-0 at Sevilla, allowing Real Madrid to go top of the league on Sunday.
The win over Athletic took Barca three points ahead of Real.
Setien was not pleased with how his side started against Athletic but praised youngsters Riqui Puig and Ansu Fati for helping to open their opponents up when they came off the bench.
“We were more relaxed in the second half and played much better. Ansu and Riqui gave us dynamism and allowed us to have longer periods of possession,” Setien said.
Lionel Messi looked particularly wearied by his team’s display.
The Argentinian was creator-in-chief again but the dependence on him was high and he remains one away from the 700th goal of his career.
Rakitic is likely to be among a handful of players allowed to leave this summer. He has not been a regular this season and this was his first Barca goal since the Clasico in March last year.
“It’s a difficult period but we have to stick together,” said Rakitic. “It was an important goal, it was a tough game, it was hard for us to open the game up.”
Quique Setien