Improving ball possession is our main goal, says Setien

"We need to improve our ball possession in certain aspects," said Setien during the pre-match press conference. He also revealed that the coaching staff has dedicated "a lot of time and many hours" to improve this aspect.

In fact, the Cantabrian coach admitted that the break caused by the pandemic has been beneficial for them to "reflect and analyze," as well as to recover Luis Suarez, who has been training with the rest of his teammates after recovering from a knee operation.

"Is Luis Suarez ready to start? Most likely, although not to play the entire match. He is getting better every day, but after five months without playing, it is logical that he needs a few matches to regain his best form," he commented about the Uruguayan forward.

Defender Samuel Umtiti also lacks "a little more rhythm" compared to his teammates, as he suffered a muscular problem during the return to training. However, Messi is feeling "perfectly fine" according to Setien, after overcoming a quad injury that kept him training separately from the group for a few days.

In any case, Setien emphasized the importance of preventing injuries in a tournament where they will compete for the title playing eleven matches in one month.

"Messi and all these players who have been playing for so many years know how to pace themselves, and I'm sure that if there is any risk, they will be the first to manage it. I will always trust what the players tell me," he commented on the matter.

Regarding the fact that Barcelona will play the first four matchdays before Real Madrid, the coach of the Catalan team acknowledged that he "definitely" prefers to "play first" than their eternal rival. However, he remained skeptical about whether being able to make five substitutions will benefit his team.

"It's a new situation, so all arguments are valid. We will have to see how it goes as the matches progress," Setien pointed out. He also insisted that having "the best player in the world," referring to Messi, gives them a slight advantage in the title race.

The Santander-born coach also referred to two other players: midfielder Arthur Melo and defender Nelson Semedo.

About Arthur, he did not guarantee his continuity next season, stating that "current circumstances are different from usual and will affect the transfer market." On the other hand, he downplayed Semedo's incident, who broke the health and LaLiga protocols by attending a birthday party with more than fifteen people on Monday.

"He (Semedo) is extremely concerned. It was a mistake, he was not consciously aware of the situation. Obviously, he made an error and he has already apologized to me," he commented about the Portuguese full-back.