Barcelona boss Setie desperate for Messi to remain at Camp Nou
Barcelona boss Quique Setien hopes Lionel Messi will choose to remain at the club, and plans to make the talisman ‘so happy’ to avoid him contemplating leaving.
Setien, who was hired as Ernesto Valverde’s successor last month, has relied heavily on Messi’s heroics during his opening four games in charge.
The Argentine scored the first goal of the new manager’s tenure and also netted a brace in the Copa del Rey victory against Leganes on Thursday.
And ahead of Barcelona’s clash with Levante, Setien revealed he is desperate for Messi to commit his future to the Catalan giants.
Setien told Spanish newspaper SPORT: ‘I hope we make Messi so happy that he wants to stay.’
The 61-year-old tactician penned a two-and-a-half year contract with the Nou Camp outfit after Barcelona’s negotiations with club legend Xavi failed to reach an agreement.
But after Valverde’s sacking, Setien was handed the reins instead and the former Real Betis coach believes that Barcelona steered away from their typical style of play under his predecessor.
‘I do believe Barca’s play was going away from the original idea,’ Setien added.
‘I want to win all the games and my dream is to leave a good memory.’
Lionel Messi stats for Barcelona:
709 matches played
500 wins
131 draws
79 losses
622 Goals
241 AssistsShow me a better stats, I'd wait.
The King. The best ever. The GOAT 👑🐐. #Messi pic.twitter.com/ji3TVoM161
— D E V O L (@okiTwiTs) January 30, 2020
Read Also: Barcelona defender Samuel Umtiti snubbed Arsenal switch
Setien’s era has been criticised for a surprising lack of cutting edge, with Barcelona falling to a limp defeat against Valencia, but the new manager is adamant the club will cope without the sidelined Luis Suarez.
He said: ‘We can play with no pure striker, with [Antoine] Griezmann or we will figure out something.’
The reigning champions are currently second in LaLiga, and trail table toppers Real Madrid by three points.