The Blaugrana boss took an unorthodox approach to preparing his squad for a trip to Real Betis in La Liga this weekend
Quique Setien saw to it that his Barcelona players trained blindfolded ahead of a meeting with Real Betis on Sunday, in a drill designed to amplify the senses and increase awareness on the pitch.
Barca are currently gearing up for a must-win game at Estadio Benito Villamarin as they aim to bounce back from a surprise Copa del Rey exit at the hands of Athletic Bilbao in midweek.
The Blaugrana have endured a frustrating 2019-20 campaign to date, with Ernesto Valverde relieved of his managerial duties last month following a series of unconvincing performances.
Ex-Betis head coach Setien was swiftly drafted in as Valverde’s replacement, but he has so far been unable to inspire a squad seemingly devoid of confidence and unity.
Setien’s reign began with a 1-0 win over Granada which was followed up by a nervy 2-1 Copa del Rey victory over Ibiza, before he suffered his first defeat at the helm against Valencia.
Barcelona were beaten 2-1 at Mestalla on January 25, which allowed Real Madrid to move three points clear in the La Liga standings.
The Spanish champions bounced back by thumping Leganes 5-0 in a round of 16 Copa clash and beating Levante at Camp Nou, but the loss against Bilbao raised questions over Setien’s credentials.
He is likely to come under more scrutiny after experimenting with a new exercise on the training ground called the “blind chicken”, which is usually aimed at children.
A video has surfaced showing a number of Barcelona stars jogging around the pitch wearing blindfolds, including Arturo Vidal and Antoine Griezmann.
Setien and his coaching staff can be seen running alongside the players to make sure they don’t bump into anything or fall over, with a focus on improving agility and confidence.
It has been a difficult week on and off the pitch for everyone involved at Camp Nou, with club talisman Lionel Messi speaking out against sporting director Eric Abidal.
Messi criticised Abidal for publicly suggesting that Barcelona players downed took towards the end of Valverde’s reign, leading to speculation over his future in Catalunya.
The Argentine has a clause in his current contract which allows him to leave for nothing at the end of the season, and it has been reported that a reunion with Pep Guardiola at Manchester City could be on the cards.
A win against Betis could help lift the mood of gloom surrounding the club, before focus shifts to a home fixture against Getafe in six days time.
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