It was Quique Setien's first real test since his arrival on the bench in Barcelona on January 13. And it is especially a first failure! After two short victories over Granada (1-0) in Liga and Ibiza, boarder of D3 (2-1, doubled by Antoine Griezmann), in the King's Cup, the new Catalan coach suffered his first loss (2-0) , Saturday, on the lawn of Valence. A defeat which Real Madrid, traveling Sunday evening in Valladolid, could take advantage to take alone the head of the standings.
Despite an impeccable Marc-André Ter Stegen, who pushed back Maxi Gomez's penalty in the 8th minute and made more saves in the first period, the Blaugranas, inoffensive in front of the opposing cage, and feverish in defense, were caught on a goal against his camp Jordi Alba (48th) and a realization of the Uruguayan Maxi Gomez (77th). A week after the recital against Granada - 1,005 assists (92% successful and 82.1% possession of the ball) - Barça logically renewed the game plan of its new coach. But not with the same success.
Umtiti did not seem to his advantage
"There are things that we did not understand, things that they misinterpret (the players), or that we (the staff) do not explain well, perhaps," regretted the 61-year-old coach. after the game. It is one thing to understand on paper, but it is quite another to reproduce it on the ground. We have multiplied the passes without depth, and we are not working for that. There are things that we must try to correct. It is a painful defeat that we will try to digest as quickly as possible. "
⏰ It's over in Mestalla
🔵🔴 # ValenciaBarça (2-0)
⚽ (goals from Jordi Alba CSC and Maxi Gomez) pic.twitter.com/dwDyXlOG36
The site seems important for the successor of Ernesto Valverde, who is already the target of criticism. His decision to establish the tricolor Samuel Umtiti in central defense for the second time, in place of his compatriot Clément Lenglet, did not bring him luck since the world champion did not seem to his advantage.
