Liga Santander: Setin: “For Madrid it is a vital game, more important than for Barcelona” | LaLiga Santander 2019

The technician opens in a classic with Barcelona after threading three visits without losing in the Bernabu in front of Las Palmas and Betis

“Until today, I've always seen these games sitting on the couch.” Quique Setin rehearsed at its premiere in a classic, in the Santiago Bernabu and in front of Barcelona. But also to that succession of events that have been piling up since the Barca government decided to hand him the team after the dismissal of Ernesto Valverde. If last Tuesday he had to debut as a coach in the most precious competition, the Champions League, now it is his turn to occupy the bench of Chamartn as a Barcelona coach. He already did it when he directed Las Palmas and Betis, and things could not do better: two wins with the Verdiblancos, in addition to a draw and a defeat with the Canarian team. In fact, Setin has shown his current soccer players the last two victories with Betis at Bernabu (0-1 and 0-2) in the previous two seasons.

“As with Betis and Las Palmas, with Barcelona we will also present a daring team that will press and want the ball. In no case do you go quietly to Bernabu, even if you won twice. But it will make me very excited to win and continue the extraordinary streak that the club has. And the one that I carry“Setin, in his appearance before the classic on Sunday, resorted for a good part of his responses to his usual dialectic in terms of style, questioned after the continental draw in San Paolo, where his team could only finish once between sticks.

Barcelona, ​​accustomed in recent times to the institutional messes reaching the last box office locker, has nevertheless managed to link four consecutive wins in the League that have allowed him to regain the leadership of the tournament and take two points of advantage. This is joined this February by Real Madrid, eliminated as the Bara of the Cup and defeated on Wednesday by City in the Champions League; but also the usual Barca good luck every time he steps on the Bernabu: eight victories in his last 11 visits.

“For Real Madrid it is a vital match. Surely more important than for us, for the situation in the table and for the advantage we could get. For them it is key. I don't know if decisive, but it's very important. If we win we will have five points of advantage, “Setin said, although he then showed caution:” But I'm not foolish. Be an equalized match with alternatives. There will be phases in which we can dominate, and others in which they dominate us. “

Last Wednesday, Setin sought to witness the triumph of Manchester City in the Bernabu and also visit Pep Guardiola. The former Catalan coach has won six of the nine games played in white territory. “I went to watch the game, not Guardiola. I was drawing conclusions, and then we had the opportunity to talk for a while. There are things that the City could do that can come in handy. And others, which we may not be able to develop or not interested in. Ah rooted the conversation a little. I have a certain relationship with him, “Setin said.

The Barcelona coach could include in the list of summoned one of his most precious pieces: Jordi Alba. The side, who joined the training on Thursday and has hastened their recovery deadlines, was discharged this Saturday. “It's pretty good. The feelings are positive. The only thing you have to decide with him is whether we will get him out or not. He certainly has confidence,” Setin admitted, also aware of the discreet role of Junior Firpo the time in which He had to occupy the left bank.