"Not everyone can say they did it" - Former Barcelona manager on coaching Lionel Messi during his stint with Catalan club
Former Barcelona manager Quique Setien has opened up about what it was like to coach Lionel Messi during his time at the iconic Catalan club. In an interview, he reflected on the highs and challenges of managing a team that included one of the greatest footballers of all time.
Lionel Messi, who spent over two decades at Barcelona, had played under several different coaches, including Setien. The Spaniard manager took over as Barca’s head coach in January 2020, succeeding Ernesto Valverde, lasting only till August that year. While his time at the Catalan club was brief, it was marked by significant moments, one of which was his opportunity to coach a player of Messi’s caliber.
When the Spaniard was asked if coaching Messi was a unique experience, he said (via French Football Weekly)
“Yes, definitely. Not everyone can say they did it. It was an extraordinary experience.”
On his time at the Catalan club, he said:
''For me, coaching Barça has been something special. It’s the best thing, being able to coach a team that plays the way you like, without having to start working on something new. At Barça I learned a lot of things that I continue to do today.”
Setien's time at Barcelona ended after a crushing 8-2 defeat to Bayern Munich in the UEFA Champions League in August 2020. He was sacked and replaced by Ronald Koeman.
Former Barcelona forward David Villa says comparing Lamine Yamal with Lionel Messi is a mistake
David Villa has shared his thoughts on the comparisons being made between Lamine Yamal and Lionel Messi. The Spanish forward acknowledged Yamal’s footballing abilities but thinks that comparing him to the Argentine legend is fallacious.
Since breaking into Barcelona’s first team, Yamal has proven himself as a top player, putting on impressive performances week in and week out. His status was further elevated when he played an integral part in Spain’s Euro 2024 triumph. However, the former Valencia man doesn’t think all these put the 17-year-old on the same level as Lionel Messi. He said (via Barca Universal):
''I think, not because of Lamine, because he is a special player, a unique player, I think we have never seen anything like him because of his youth and precocity, but I have said it many times, comparing a player with Messi is a mistake.
"Anyone in the world of football: Lamine, Haaland, Mbappé... anyone. You can't compare him to Messi because Messi is different. But it is true that this kid is doing things that make us think that we don't know where his ceiling will be.’’
Yamal, who is just 17 years old, has already registered 10 goals and 13 assists in 56 games for Barcelona.