After drawing two of their last three league games, Barcelona's title hopes now hang by a thread. To make things worse, rumors of a rift between the players have emerged, with the gaffer now tipped to be sacked if he fails to win their upcoming Spanish top-flight game, which is against Atletico.
According to several outlets, the dressing room has lost faith in the manager, which could either be the causing factor for or a consequence of their poor displays since resuming the season. To add fuel to the fire, a video has been doing the rounds which appears to show Messi ignore the gaffer and his assistant Eder Sarabia during the 2-2 draw at Celta Vigo.
After the game, heated words were allegedly exchanged as the players no longer see eye-to-eye with the tactics. With sources claiming that Tuesday's clash with Atletico could be do-or-die for Setien, the Blaugrana boss has addressed all those claims.
The 61-year-old, who was only appointed back in January has played down the rumors. While the tactician admitted that heated exchanges have occurred, the former Real Betis boss argued that nothing alarming has taken place nor is there a rift between himself and the dressing room.
"I don't recall any problems that are worth mentioning," said Setien.
"In reality it is true that there are always controversies, as in life, and it is normal that there are differences.
"But this has always happened. I was not an easy player either. What we have to try to do is to convince everyone of the common idea.
"I understand it as something natural. There is good communication. I don't give it any importance.
"When there are no victories, when things happen, everyone makes their point. This is the circus in which we show ourselves.
"The relationship between the players is good."
Speaking ahead of Tuesday's crucial clash with Simeone's side, Setien refused to get preoccupied with Real Madrid, whom they now trail by two points. The manager insisted that all he can do now is focus on his own team and how to improve their performance on the pitch, which has been below par for the most part of this season.
"We can control what we can control: ourselves," Quique added when asked about Real Madrid's results. "We have to improve so that what happened the other day doesn't happen again.
"If we don't win, our chances of winning the league are reduced. We have to try to win every game and what happens will happen.
"Hopefully, our rivals will give us the possibility, but we have to keep thinking about ourselves until the final day."
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