Lionel Messi makes controversial demands from Barcelona effective instantly
Lionel Messi demands the immediate departure of Quique Setien.
Barcelona will sign off their La Liga campaign of 2019/20 win a game against Deportivo Alaves on Saturday evening. With La Liga having been won by Real Madrid and the Catalans having sealed second place, there isn’t much to play for and so Quique Setien has taken only 16 players to the Basque city for the matchday 38 encounter.
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Lionel Messi was crossed after the side’s disgusting 2-1 defeat at the hands of Osasuna on Camp Nou soil. He took out time to say that the team may not be able to get past even Napoli in the Champions League and that everyone involved had to be self-critical and take a thorough look at themselves in the dressing room.
Quique Setien himself said that he was unsure whether he will overlook the club’s Champions League campaign in August with rumours of a sack going strong. In fact, the Alaves game may be the former Real Betis manager’s last one as Barca boss before Javier Pimienta steps up from Barca B to take over for the remainder of this season.
Diario GOL reports that Messi, whose contract expires next year has made firm demands from the board. The Argentina international wants a manager who knows the club inside out and understands the standards and values that are demanded in Catalonia, with Xavi Hernandez being his undisputed choice to be in the dugout at the hot seat.
Xavi may not be able to heal everything.
Xavi has been linked with the Barcelona job since Ernesto Valverde was sacked but he has always remained coy and recently signed an extension to his contract with Qatari side Al Sadd. Having said that, the ex-Spain midfielder has reportedly reject the chance of a return until Josep Maria Bartomeu vacates his role as the club’s president.
Messi is absolutely right with his demands but Barcelona’s biggest problem is not the coach or the board entirely, but an entirely aged squad who doesn’t seem to be as ambitious as it was some years ago. Of course, the absence of a leader is something that need highlighting too. The rot at the club is from top to bottom and just a coach wouldn’t be able to clean it.
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What do you make of Messi asking for an instant change in the Camp Nou?