Barcelona boss Quique Setien ‘MUST win the Champions League to stay in his job beyond this summer’ as Lionel Messi and Co look to salvage their dismal season with European glory
Only Champions League success will save Barcelona boss Quique Setien from being sacked this season, according to reports in Spain.
Sport claim Setien is aware he is in a precarious position after Barca missed out on the La Liga title, finishing five points behind triumphant rivals Real Madrid.
The 61-year-old coach was heavily criticised after the 2-1 defeat against 10-man Osasuna which allowed Los Blancos to clinch their first title since 2017, but he has been given one last chance to make amends in the European Cup.
Setien replaced Ernesto Valverde in January after an unsatisfactory start to the season, but his appointment was not embraced by Barca players.
The Nou Camp club were knocked out of the Copa Del Rey in February with a 1-0 quarter-final defeat by Athletic Bilbao, then went on to squander their lead at the top of the La Liga table.
Setien’s position appeared untenable after the sporting lockdown as Barca stars paid no attention to his team talks during mid-game water breaks.
The manager is under contract until 2022, however the Spanish outlet suggests his tenure could be cut short during club elections in 2021.
Setien is thought to have failed to win over senior Barca players such as Lionel Messi
Arturo Vidal is shown a red card during the Champions League last-16 first leg draw at Napoli
Moreover, the board of directors could take the decision to sack Setien this summer unless he can guide the club to their sixth European Cup win.
Barca take on Napoli at home in the last-16 second leg on August 8, four months after their 1-1 draw in the first leg.
Antoine Griezmann cancelled out Dries Mertens’ opener in Naples before Arturo Vidal was shown a red card with one minute of normal time remaining.
The revised Champions League schedule will see single-leg quarter-final matches take place on August 14-15 and semi-finals on August 18-19.
The final will be held on Sunday August 23, with all matches hosted in Lisbon.
