Messi, VAR to the rescue
Barca confidence unaffected by fan frustration, says Setien
QUIQUE SETIEN insisted Barcelona have not lost their confidence, despite needing a dubious late penalty, converted by Lionel Messi, to scrape past Real Sociedad 1-0 yesterday inside a frustrated Nou Camp .
Messi’s 24th goal of the season, and fifth in four games, was enough to save Barca, despite a drab display that threatened to bring more disappointment following last weekend’s loss against Real Madrid.
As tension grew inside the Nou Camp, some of the home fans whistled to express their dissatisfaction, which Jordi Alba then seemed to confront when celebrating a late goal, ruled out for offside, by putting his fingers in his ears.
“We have not lost confidence in what we are doing,” said Setien. “The fans sometimes don’t expect the opposition to restrict you but you have to take into account that Real Sociedad are a great team.
“We knew it was going to be a tremendously complicated game. They had six straight wins, one at the Bernabeu, and are in the final of the cup,” Setien said at his postmatch press conference.
“Apart from in some phases, the game was controlled. We did have difficult times but we also created danger.
“We have won thanks to the VAR. From the bench, I did not see it as it was too far away.”
On his own reaction, Alba said: “I respect the fans but the fans have to respect me. Nobody likes to be whistled, and even less after 15 minutes at 0-0.”
Setien said he had apologised to the squad after his assistant Eder Sarabia was recorded launching into a number of foul-mouthed rants against his own players during the game against Madrid.
“When the club is in a moment of weakness, these kinds of things come out,” said Gerard Pique.
“It’s normal for an assistant coach, with the adrenaline high, to express himself.
We see it as normal.
“We won the game with the narrowest of margins but it keeps our hopes of winning the title alive,” added Pique.
Sociedad boss Imanol Alguacil felt his side had deserved to leave the Nou Camp with at least a point.
“For the boldness and what my team did on the field, we deserved at least a draw,” he said at a press conference, reported by Spanish media outlet AS.
“We made a great effort, proved to be in a good moment and we had a very competitive team.
“We did a great job and if Barcelona were not at a great level it is because we did many things well.
“There are times when you get hurt, but in this defeat I am happy, proud and satisfied.”