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Barcelona Coach Quique Setien wants to make sure Lionel Messi is happy so he will remain at the club, MySportDab reports.
Setien who replaced Ernesto Valverde’s last month, has relied heavily on Messi’s heroics during his first matches in charge.
MySportDab understands that Lionel Messi scored the first goal of the new manager’s tenure and then scored a brace in the Copa del Rey win over Leganes on Thursday.
Speaking ahead of Barcelona’s match with Levante, Setien revealed he is desperate for Messi to commit his future totally to the club.
‘I hope we make Messi happy so that he wants to stay,” Setien told Spanish newspaper SPORT.
The 61-year-old Coach signed a two-and-a-half year contract with the Nou Camp clubs after Barcelona failed to reach an agreement with club legend XAVI.
But after Valverde was sacked, Setien was given the job instead and the former Real Betis manager believes that Barcelona moved away from their typical style of play under Valverde.
‘I believe Barca’s style of play was moving away from the original idea,’ Setien added.
‘I want to win all matches and my plan is to leave a good memory.’
Setien’s reign so far has been criticised for a lack of cutting edge, with Barcelona falling to defeat Valencia, but the new manager is confident the club will progress without injured striker Luis Suarez.
Barcelona are currently second in LaLiga, and three points behind rivals Real Madrid.