FC Barcelona manager, Quique Setien has said the club is convinced they can win the UEFA Champions League, contradicting a claim by the team’s captain and superstar, Lionel Messi, that European club football’s top prize is beyond them.
Messi stated earlier this month that Barcelona could not claim the title unless the Catalan side was able to quickly improve the standard of their performances.
“Now, everyone has their opinion and they are all very respectable,” Messi told Sport.
“Mine is based on the fact that I was lucky to play the Champions League every year and I know that it is not possible to win it by playing as we have been playing,” the Argentine explained.
Setien’s reaction predictably differed from the sentiments of the club’s pin-up boy.
“Messi’s words I think have created a big debate,” Setien told beIN Sports.
“We are convinced that we can win the Champions League. We have to improve some things, but without a doubt we are convinced that the team has the potential to win the Champions League.
“We can win it. We are convinced we can win the Champions League, of course we can,” he said.
Barcelona remain in this season’s Champions League and await the second leg of their last 16 tie with Napoli when the season resumes. The first leg game against Napoli ended in a 1-1 draw at the Stadio San Paolo, with Antoine Griezmann equalising for the visitors after Dries Mertens’ opener.
Setien has guided Barcelona to a slender two-point advantage over rivals Real Madrid at the top of La Liga. However, the 30-time winners crashed out of the Copa del Rey to Athletic Bilbao in February and suffered a disappointing Clasico defeat to Real in March.
La Liga is set to continue from June 8 after being given the green light to resume by the Spanish prime minister.
