Lionel Messi trains under Quique Setien’s guidance on the same day Barcelona star claimed they would be unable to win the Champions League under the manager
- The Argentina international was seen undergoing some dribbling exercises
- Barcelona boss Quique Setien was seen wearing a protective mask and gloves
- Lionel Messi believes Barcelona cannot win the Champions League if it returns
- Setien took over from Ernesto Valverde in January but has had mixed results
- Here’s how to help people impacted by Covid-19
Lionel Messi was spotted training alongside manager Quique Setien on the same day he claimed Barcelona could not win the Champions League under the coach.
The Argentina international was seen undergoing some dribbling exercises while Setien watched on.
The Barcelona boss was spotted wearing a protective mask and gloves under strict guidelines amid the coronavirus pandemic.
Lionel Messi was spotted training alongside manager Quique Setien on Friday afternoon
The Argentina star was seen undergoing some dribbling exercises while Setien watched on
The pair would have likely had an awkward discussion on Friday after Messi believes Barcelona cannot win the Champions League if it returns this summer because of the tactical style and performances under Setien.
Setien took over from Ernesto Valverde in January but has failed to turn the Catalan giant’s fortunes around with a series of bland displays, including a demoralising 2-0 defeat in El Clasico back in March.
Barcelona are still two points clear of Real Madrid at the top of LaLiga but it is on the European stage that Messi believes they will come up short under Setien.
They drew 1-1 with Napoli in the first leg of their last-16 tie before the football season was halted by the coronavirus pandemic. But Messi thinks there is very little chance Barcelona can become European champions if they continue playing how they were.
The Barcelona boss was seen wearing a protective mask and gloves under strict guidelines
In an interview with Spanish newspaper SPORT, Messi said: ‘What I think is that [Setien] misunderstood what I said.
‘What I said is that playing as we had been playing the last games before the break, it seemed clear that we weren’t enough to win the Champions League.
‘I never doubted the squad we have and I have no doubt that you can win all that remains, but not by playing in the way we were playing.
‘Now, everyone has their opinion and they are all very respectable.
‘Mine is based on the fact that I was lucky to play the Champions League every year and I know that it is not possible to win it by playing as we have been playing.’
In an interview with SPORT, Messi revealed his damning thoughts on Barca under Setien
