Coach Quique Setien demands attractive football from Barcelona

New Barcelona boss Quique Setien threw down a challenge to his players on Saturday when he said he will never be happy if Catalans fail to play beautiful game - even if y win. Setien faces his first game as Barca coach against Granada on Sunday, having replaced sacked Ernesto Valverde earlier this week. He arrives with a reputation for attacking, possession-based football but his team cant afford much of a transition period, given y sit top of La Liga but level on points with Real Madrid.

y play Granada at home after a run of one win in five games.

"I always want to win," said Setien in a press conference on Saturday.

"If I win playing badly, I will t go home happy and I will never tell players that result was worth it.

"We are all smart and able to understand that if you play well, you have a better chance of winning. That is my explanation. I will always try to make my team play well because that way we are more likely to win." 

Tears for Messi

Setien has openly expressed his admiration for Barcelona's players in past, in particular Lionel Messi, about whom he once said he would cry forever when Argentinian retires. challenge will be to establish his authority over squad and gain players' respect but Setien said his first week has been positive.

" week went really well," Setien said. 

"It has been much better than I expected because when you come to a new team, re's always some uncertainty about how y will respond.

"But I was surprised by ir willingness to work and to accept some of those changes that any new coach proposes when he arrives.

"I am very happy about everything. From ir attitude to ir ability, and y have understood. It has all been wonderful." 

Club president Josep Maria Bartomeu said he hoped Setien's arrival would create a "new dynamic" that could propel Barcelona to victory in league, Champions League and Copa del Rey.

"Pressure is t imposed on me by club, I impose it on myself," said Setien.

"I kw where I am and y don't have to remind me because every morning I will work my hardest and tell players we have to win.

"I will try to avoid anything that distracts me from job or takes away my energy. I kw re will be criticism, win or lose." 

61-year-old even took part in some of Barcelona's training this week when he played in a "rondo" next to Messi. "I feel football from within," Setien said.  "I kw how old I am but I need that energy." Luis Suarez will miss game against Granada with a knee injury and Setien kept open possibility of signing ar striker in January. Ousmane Dembele is still recovering from a hamstring tear but Arthur Melo could return after overcoming a groin problem.