Skip to content

Report: Barcelona to fire Setien after embarrassing loss to Bayern

MANU FERNANDEZ / AFP / Getty

Barcelona aren't wasting any time.

The club has decided to sack manager Quique Setien in the wake of Friday's stunning 8-2 Champions League defeat to Bayern Munich, reports Fabrizio Romano of The Guardian.

The humiliating loss appears to be the last straw for a club that has been trending in the wrong direction since football resumed; Barca stumbled down the stretch of the campaign, ultimately ceding the league title to Real Madrid.

Setien took over for predecessor Ernesto Valverde as Barcelona's bench boss in January.

Despite being a longtime admirer and devotee of the Catalan club's vaunted playing style, the 61-year-old was never able to translate that to the pitch during his interrupted spell at the Camp Nou.

Unable to overcome an aging, ill-fitting squad that was too reliant on Lionel Messi's brilliance, Barcelona labored under Setien, often generating sterile possession. They looked vulnerable defensively, too, as highlighted by Bayern Munich's ruthlessness Friday in Lisbon.

With the former Real Betis boss now destined for the exit, Barcelona have been linked with a potential move for Mauricio Pochettino, who remains available after being fired by Tottenham Hotspur last year.

Daily Newsletter

Get the latest trending sports news daily in your inbox