'It's not worth talking about Messi' - Setien

FT Desk

• 28 Oct 2022 20:55 BST
• 3 min read

Quique Setien has been reflecting on his seven-month spell in charge of Barcelona, and Lionel Messi doesn't come out too well…

Setien replaced Ernesto Valverde as Barca coach in January 2020, but he was dismissed just seven months later after an 8-2 humbling by Bayern Munich in the Champions League.

Messi scored 31 goals and assisted 27 more in the season Setien was coach - although the first half of those came under Valverde - but the Argentine's influence at Camp Nou wasn't always a welcome one.

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"It's not worth talking about Messi," Setien told Spanish radio programme El Larguero. "Everyone should have his back. He was a permanent fixture for 14 years and that's what I remind myself of. I can't assess whether or not he disappointed me.

"There are things you like and others you don't and it's a constant battle. If he then goes and scores three goals in a game you can't say anything. There's always a player who costs you a little more to accept him as he is."

Setien has only recently returned to football following his Barca dismissal, replacing the Aston Villa-bound Unai Emery at Villarreal. He also took the chance to take aim at the Premier League.

READ: 'Unhinged' Tebas could cost Real Madrid and Barcelona millions

"Would I go to the Premier League if they paid me more?" he asked rhetorically. "Each to their own, you have to see what the circumstances are. In Lugo they came for me, and I stayed, I was comfortable there. My needs are my own, others can make their own choice."

Messi split

Messi outlasted Setien at Barcelona by year before joining PSG on a free transfer last summer with the Blaugrana in €1.35 billion of debt.

After a difficult start to life in Paris, he has looked more settled this term and plundered 11 goals and 12 assists from 16 games this term.

A return to Barcelona remains a possibility, though, with the Argentine out of contract at the end of the season.