Quique Setien is just Ernesto Valverde MKII

Photo by Mateo Villalba/Quality Sport Images/Getty Images

The champions put in a shameful display against Sevilla

What in God’s name was that?

That was as poor a team selection and as poor a performance as anything we saw under Ernesto Valverde.

Where are all the culers now who were crying out for Quique Setien to join us? You have your answer as to why he was never considered beforehand.

Lost away at Valencia, lost away at Athletic, lost away at Real Madrid, drew at Napoli and drew at Sevilla. The man can’t even win a big away match.

The team looked relatively ok in the opening exchanges and really should’ve scored at least once when they had the chance.

Photo by Mateo Villalba/Quality Sport Images/Getty Images

However, they tired badly in the second half and when the game was crying out for Riqui Puig, he brought on Arthur who, despite an abundance of times when a defence splitting pass was on, decided to turn and pass back.

He’s rapidly turning into another Rakitic, and at this stage Juve is a very appealing option.

Why wasn’t Ansu Fati given the nod at some point either?

Within the space of six short months... well three if you consider that Barca didn’t play in three of them, Setien the brave has turned into anything but.

He has become Setien the scared, Setien the boring, Setien the Valverde clone.

On any other occasion, a 0-0 draw at the Sanchez Pizjuan - after we’ve played that poorly - would probably have been celebrated, but we’ve dropped so many points already, that this result could be fatal to our title chances.

Should Real Madrid win in Sociedad on Sunday, they will top the table and, honestly, I don’t see them relinquishing it.

They look sharper, less tired and much, much more cohesive as a unit.

Photo by Fran Santiago/Getty Images

Were it not for Marc-Andre ter Stegen - yet again - we would’ve left Sevilla with a defeat, against a bang average opponent.

Can anyone, hand on their heart, say that they’ve enjoyed what Setien has brought to the party? It’s very difficult to find any positives whatsoever in his tenure.

He hasn’t improved any of the players, hasn’t given chances to those that clearly deserve it, and hasn’t played the football that he’s been renowned for, for the most part.

It’s as if he doesn’t want to make a mistake, so is settling for playing it safe each game.

Messi, against his favourite opponent, was pretty ordinary too, and his penchant for passing to his mate Suarez, and vice versa, is becoming a terrible habit.

All in all, this was a game to forget.

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