Bartomeu: 'It was necessary to provide a boost to the end of the season'

The president, Josep Maria Bartomeu, and the technical secretary, Eric Abidal, have explained the reasons why FC Barcelona changed their coach mid-season. At a press conference in which they both accompanied Quique Setién on the day of his presentation as the new coach, they said that "there was a boost needed until the end of the season."

In that sense, Bartomeu was clear: "We had known for a long time that the dynamics of the team could be improved and we had talked with Valverde. We have had a close and uncomplicated relationship with him and we had been talking about it this summer."

According to the Barça president, with this "new momentum and new dynamic," the team now aspires to win the three remaining titles: LaLiga, Champions League and Copa del Rey, which will start next week in Ibiza.

On the subject of Quique Setién's contract, which he has signed until June 30, 2022, Bartomeu clarified that it included a clause that contemplates the possibility of being terminated in the summer of 2021 - when the presidential election is scheduled - in case the new president prefers a coach other than Quique Setién at that time.

Abidal: 'We like the way Setién works'

The president gave more details on why Quique Setién was hired as a new coach: "I would have liked things to have been done differently, of course. This is not the spirit of this board."

He added: "We talked to other coaches as is our obligation. We wanted to know the plans of many coaches and some names finally came out, but for a long time we have worked with discretion."

On Quique Setién, the technical secretary, Eric Abidal, is clear: "He's here because he has a good projection and we like the way he works."

In fact, Abidal enjoyed Quique Setién's first training session as Barça coach: "What I have seen today in training are a lot of changes without asking the coach."