BARCELONA - Barcelona's new coach Quique Setien will take
charge of the La Liga leaders for the first time on Sunday as they
host Granada at Camp Nou.
Having been presented on Tuesday as Ernesto Valverde's replacement,
the veteran Spanish coach is in the strange position of starting with
the team currently top of the table.
Barcelona lead the division on goal difference ahead of Real Madrid,
with both teams on 40 points after 19 games, the halfway mark.
"I have spoken with (Valverde) to discuss things because there are
many things from his work that will be useful to me," said Setien.
"I thank him that he leaves me this team in first place in the
league."
Barcelona's board brought Setien in to help improve the quality of
the team's performances.
While Valverde won two league titles in his two full seasons at the
club, there have long been concerns over the style of play and
bloodless displays.
"Whenever a new coach arrives, there is a new sense of stimulation,"
added Setien.
"It's true that this can sometimes fade away afterwards, but we have
to try to maintain it.
"I'm convinced that I can convey the ideas I like and that everything
can get better. The main objective is without doubt to win all we
can.
"This club requires that you get better each year and that you win as
many titles as possible, as well as playing well."
Promoted Granada, after a fine start to the season in which they
topped the table after 10 games, have faded a little and sit 10th.
Real Madrid have the chance to go provisionally three points clear of
Barcelona on Saturday when they host Sevilla at the Santiago
Bernabeu.
The visitors are set to stand in a guard of honour for Madrid after
they triumphed in the Spanish Super Cup in Saudi Arabia last week.
Having improved greatly under Zinedine Zidane this season, Los
Blancos now seem close to the level they played at in their double
winning season, 2016-17.
Midfielder Fede Valverde is suspended for the game after being sent
off in the Spanish Super Cup final for cynically fouling Atletico
Madrid's Alvaro Morata as he ran through on goal at the end of
extra-time.
"We had some difficulties at the start of the season, but that can
happen," said Zidane.
"Now we have to be happy with this cup, but it's a long season. There
are lots of competitions still up for grabs and we're only just
getting started."
Forwards Karim Benzema and Eden Hazard are not expected to return
from injury for the clash, having missed the Super Cup competition in
Jeddah but returned to training this week.
Sevilla, fourth, are impressing under Julen Lopetegui, who was sacked
by Real Madrid last season.
The Spanish coach was given little time at the helm, dismissed in
October 2018 after a 5-1 thrashing by Barcelona, having taken over
from Zidane in the summer.
The weekend's other fixtures are Leganes v Getafe, Levante v Alaves,
Osasuna v Valladolid, Eibar v Atletico Madrid, Real Mallorca v
Valencia, Real Betis v Real Sociedad, Villarreal v Espanyol and
Athletic Bilbao v Celta Vigo.