Quique Setien Reflects on Barcelona Tenure and Financial Disputes with Villarreal

Quique Setien’s tumultuous association with FC Barcelona officially concluded on the pitch in August 2020; however, the financial aspects of their separation have only recently been resolved. In a conversation with the Spanish radio program El Larguero on Cadena SER, the Cantabrian coach confirmed that the matter concerning his salary is finally settled, albeit after a protracted delay, underscoring the severe liquidity issues that have plagued the club in recent years.

Following his dismissal, Setien initiated legal proceedings to recover the owed funds, joining a roster of creditors that painted a stark picture of Barcelona’s economic health. Nonetheless, the manager has since stated that he harbors no further grievances regarding the outstanding debt. “Barcelona has taken three or four years to pay me,” Setien admitted. “Everything is resolved now. They have fulfilled all payments owed to me, and they owe me nothing.”

Setien’s tenure at Camp Nou was marked by brief, frenetic challenges, ultimately overshadowed by circumstances largely beyond his control. Appointed in January 2020 as a mid-season replacement for Ernesto Valverde, his mandate was to restore the club’s famed ‘DNA’ and attractive style of play. However, he inherited a dressing room in decline and a club structure that was deteriorating internally.

His time in charge lasted just seven months, concluding abruptly in August 2020. Over 25 matches, he secured 16 victories, four draws, and five defeats. Despite guiding the team to a second-place finish in La Liga—surrendering the title to Real Madrid post-lockdown—his tenure is predominantly remembered for its disastrous finale: a historic 8-2 defeat to Bayern Munich in the Champions League quarter-finals.

Setien faced significant challenges with an ageing squad decimated by injuries. Key player Luis Suarez underwent knee surgery shortly before his appointment, sidelining him for months, while Ousmane Dembele sustained a severe hamstring injury soon after. These fitness issues, coupled with a systemic decline in the team’s physical condition, left Setien vulnerable against Bayern’s aggressive pressing.

While his financial matters with Barcelona have reached a resolution, Setien revealed a new financial dispute involving Villarreal. Having managed the Yellow Submarine from October 2022 until his dismissal in September 2023, he claims that the club has yet to compensate him for what he is contractually owed. “I am currently waiting for Villarreal; I haven’t received anything yet, and it has been almost three years,” he said. “The matter is in court, and we have been waiting for a year and a half for a ruling to recover what they owe me.”

Setien expressed surprise regarding the handling of finances by established La Liga institutions. “You don’t expect such issues to occur in clubs of this stature,” he noted. Despite the unpaid wages, the crushing Champions League exit, and impending legal actions, Setien expressed no regrets about joining Barcelona. He turned down a lucrative offer from Egypt to take the job, driven by a passion for football rather than financial gain.

“I do not regret moving to Barcelona instead of Egypt,” he explained. Yet, reflecting on his experience, especially after spending time with Beijing Guoan in the Chinese Super League, he yearns for a different timing. He contrasted the current environment at Barcelona with the toxic atmosphere he encountered in 2020. “I would have preferred it to have been different, in a moment like Barcelona is experiencing now, with young, enthusiastic players and a positive atmosphere. It was entirely different back then, sadly,” he said.

In an ironic twist, the “good atmosphere” Setien envies is currently being cultivated by Hansi Flick—the very coach who led Bayern to that infamous 8-2 victory. Rather than harboring resentment, Setien praised Flick’s influence on the current squad. “The players are the protagonists; it seems to me that Flick’s impact is significant,” he observed. He went on to analyze the tactical bravery Flick has instilled in the current crop of La Masia graduates, acknowledging the high-risk nature of their defensive strategies.

“He is a very demanding coach, and the squad has embraced his philosophy. Although it might seem like an imprudent approach at times, it offers Barcelona much more than it takes away. He is cultivating a young team that will grow over time, and it seems to me to be a very robust squad that I admire.”