Barcelona coach Setién welcomes Philippe Coutinho | OneFootball

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If Barça cannot achieve its transfer goals due to the financial consequences of the Corona crisis, Philippe Coutinho could become an unexpected reinforcement for the club. Coach Quique Setién believes that Coutinho needs a ‘specific role’ on the pitch to succeed.

The possible Neymar and Lautaro Martinez transfers are of huge magnitude, and it is open to debate whether it is feasible during the pandemic. So it is quite possible that Barcelona will have to reconsider their plans when it comes to reinforcements, as the club’s finances are anything but good. This could create an opportunity for a player who is actually on the siding at FC Barcelona: Philippe Coutinho.

‘Coutinho needs his ideal position’

Not so long ago, Coutinho was considered a key player and piece of the puzzle when rebuilding the squad, and as a huge transfer, he became the most expensive addition to the club’s history. But interestingly, Barça wanted to get rid of him as soon as possible. While currently, he is on loan at FC Bayern Munich, everything indicates that the Brazilian will return to FC Barcelona, ​​since Bayern will not pull the purchase option of 120 million euros. If the Catalans cannot get their dream players Neymar and Lautaro Martinez or are unable to sell Coutinho, he could get another chance at the club.

“Coutinho is a great player, I like him very much. Basically, he is a Barcelona player,” Quique Setién of the RAC1 radio station said a few days ago politely and cautiously about the Brazilian.

“Of course, I would want to have him back. I would want to talk with him.”

But would Coutinho, whom Barça absolutely wanted to get rid of in the summer, have a place in Setien’s system?

“I don’t know him personally,  but I have the impression that he needs an ideal context and adequate conditions to express himself as a footballer,” said Setién in an interview with Süddeutsche Zeitung.

Setién sees Coutinho in the middle

Barcelona’s trainer thinks that Coutinho has to play a certain role on the pitch in order to function:

“The way you let him play, the things you allow him to do, plays a big role.

“In Barcelona, ​​however, the main role is always reserved for him (referring to Lionel Messi). You have to deal with that.”

Before Setién, Coutinho played several roles and positions under Ernesto Valverde. He didn’t feel comfortable in any of them: not in the middle, not on the wing, and not on the left.

Setién explained the problem back in the day: “When he was here, Barça’s game style did not suit him. He was pushed to the outside lane in a 4-4-2 and had to pursue the opposing full-back from time to time because the rooms inside were occupied by Luis Suárez and Lionel Messi.“

Setien indicated that Coutinho could be used in the central midfield under him – if FC Barcelona kept him. Coutinho was originally hired for this role, after all he was signed to succeed Andrés Iniesta.

“He has a lot of quality and he offers many solutions in tight spaces. There are not many players of his kind”, added Setién.