Junior: 'Setién is close to the players'

The Betis-Barça fixture this weekend will see the return of Junior Firpo to Benito Villamarín. The No.24 goes back to the stadium for the first time as a visitor. In an interview with Barça TV, Junior talks about Betis, Quique Setién and his first six months in Barcelona.

In an extensive interview, these were the highlights:

The return to Villamarín

“It will be a very special day for me. I really want to see how they welcome me.”

“It's a very big stadium with an incredible atmosphere. It will be very difficult as a visiting player; at home, the support of the fans was tremendous; I don't want to imagine the pressure as a visitor.”

The current Betis side

“They have great players, and have signed some very good reinforcements. I know their dressing room perfectly, and they will fight for the European positions until the end.”

“They're having a season of ups and downs, combining moments of good football and good results with poor performances.”

Changing teams

“As much as it was a similar style, playing at Barça is another level. You have to win by playing well. The pressure is much more different than at Betis.”

Quique Setién

“He likes to participate. He is very close to the players and always wants to know how a player is feeling.”

"He is a coach who has very clear ideas and will die with them no matter what."

“Setién really likes multipurpose players. By changing the system from time to time, knowing that he has someone who can play in two different positions gives him more options.”

The importance of technical staff

“Setién has wonderful technical staff. From the goalkeeping coach, the physical trainer to Eder Sarabia. He and Setién are like yin and yang. Quique is calm and peaceful, whilst Sarabia is passionate and temperamental. It's a duo that works.”

Last year's Betis-Barça game

“I watched from the stands. Once Messi scored his goal, I got up and went directly to changing rooms because I said that I've seen everything I need to. It's going to be a long time for us to see someone else like Leo.”

His first months at Barça

"I'm happy, but I think I can do much better.”

An important month ahead

“At Barça you have to win every game. The months of January and, above all, February are the hardest, but we are prepared for it.”

Junior in Barcelona

"I live near the beach. So when we have days off I go for a walk with my wife and daughter. The truth is I'm very happy and I really like the city.”

His childhood

“I was made to play football so I could make friends, but I didn't like it. I finished training every afternoon and was crying all the way. I asked to be taken away from it."