Quique Setién presented as Barcelona manager

The press conference is over and here are the 3 takeaways:

1. Quique Setien has a philosophy and he will not change for man, woman or child. He kept referring back to it and saying that the players, of course, are important but that he has to wait and see them all in the context of his philosophy. Abidal and Bartomeu said that the philosophy and style was important when it came time to selecting him too.

2. Bartomeu said that Valverde had been spoken to several times and he knew that he was on thin ice. Bartomeu said he backed Valverde during the summer when there were plenty of people who wanted him to leave. He kept saying that a 'change of dynamis was needed' and Valverde was aware of that for a long time. He was unclear as to when the change was decided but said that Valverde was basically walking a tightrope and eventually, he just slipped.

3. The president said that potential replacements had been mentioned but not by the club and that they do their business with discretion. Unclear as to who he was speaking about or blaming here but Bartomeu washed his hands of any blame for the circus over the last few days. Xavi, Pochettino and Koeman all mentioned. All of them said no and while Bartomeu said they had been sounding out people for a while, as they look after the future of the club. Setien said he was called yesterday and said yes in five minutes.

That's it for the questions. They are getting ready to take photos at the Camp Nou.

"We might think about making changes like switching to 4-3-3 or 4-4-2 but we need to evaluate things and find out what to do but the philosophy is not going to change."

"We have a lot of things to discuss," said Setien about signing a striker. "We haven't seen enough to analyse it perfectly. I'm clear that we will always have a consensus in the decisions we make. I'm a person dedicated to the club and it's not something worried about me right now. We have an important player out but we have to think of the players here. The thing about it is the philosophy."

"I'm not going to just talk about Xavi," says Abidal. "When it comes to taking decisions, the board knows that answers are needed. Every manager is different. Setien is here because we like his way of working and his style. We have full confidence in the coach and the staff."

"We are clear about the philosophy. We don't think that simply looking at them, it will happen. I don't know if you have followed my career but this club has an incredible academy. I don't know about specific players but they will train with us. They will get the chance if they deserve it. I'll make a special effort to take care of these kids. You can sometimes get a kid who adds a certain energy. And it means the players at the top don't get complacent either."

"There are a lot of things to talk about, to understand through training and games."

Setien asked about replacing Suarez. "Obviously you have an idea of what these players are like, but until you get inside and see what these players are like in the contect you put them in, you just don't know."

"Many people say this coach is exactly the same, but the reality is we are all very different. I am very clear as to what Barça needs. I've seen this from outside, we've watched them and analysed them. There are a lot of things we are very clear about and we will try to transmit that. These are just words though and we want things that are long-lasting."

What do you think the team needs in terms of a boost?

Setien: "Every time a new manager comes in, there is a stimulus for everyone inside the dressing room. You notice it immediately. This stimulus that we saw in the session today, we need to maintain that and I have never met a coach who is the same. We all have our own caveats....I don't know if my way is the best but it's my way."

"We have had a good relationship with Valverde and with someone who has left a very good mark at the club."

A lot was spoken about with Valverde possibly continuing. After the Super Cup, Messi said he had full confidence in him. When was the moment it happened? Why did you change your mind in 3 days?

Bartomeu: "There were a lot of requests during the summer to make a change but I personally backed him. I liked the way he worked and his style. We needed a change of dynamic and we felt the best thing to give the team a boost was to make a change. We want to start the second half of the year on top and it was the moment to make the change."

Setien said he would cry the day Messi retired. How does he feel now?

"I said that about a lot of players. I have enjoyed watching Barcelona for several years, watching them on telly. Every game, I enjoy them. It's not just one, it's always enjoyable.

"To be able to manage the best in the world, and his teammates -- he has great teammates -- I have spoken to him and others. I have always said that the admiration is one things but reality is different. Everyone needs to have their place. Messi is Messi, Busquets is Busquets."

He was asked if how Valverde was treated was fair.

"For a long time, the technical staff was spoken to about changing the dynamic. The club handles its business with discretion and names got mentioned that shouldn't have been."

Bartomeu asked if he thinks the club's image has been damaged by the way this was handled.

"Ernesto Valverde has been spoken to and we said things had to be improved. He knew this, it's easy to speak with him, he's a very easy person to speak to and he is very smart. I wish it would have happened in a different way."

"My objective is to win everything! Everything you can win, this club has no other path to follow. Year after year, to win as many trophies as possible. I think the best way to victory is by playing good football. It doesn't always happen but it's not just about one day, it's about keeping it going."

"I am very clear about things, I listen to everybody but it's very difficult to take things away from me that I truly believe. I am the first to defend what I do. I'm clear about this."

Setien says when you are imaging taking over a team, it's usually a team in a bad situation with negative results but maybe the Super Cup defeat by Atlético Madrid caused Barcelona to make a change.

Setien says he is thankful for Valverde's work and him as a person, his principles.

"Thank Ernesto Valverde for leaving me with a side that is top of the league."

"Yesterday, I was walking around my hometown with cows around me and now I'm here at Barcelona managing the best players in the world."

SETIEN SPEAKS!

"I want to thank this instituation for giving me the chance. Not even in my wildest dreams could I have imagined this. I have to thank the club. I'm excited about this challenge and this project. That is the biggest thing I have to transmit to the players. I have to show the players that and normally it's not very complicated for me to transmit that. 

"I liked what I saw today and what you said to me before, and the vibe you have with your staff. Thank you to you and your stafff. This is your home now and anything you need, you can talk to your president first, then the captain and then me..." 

Eric Abidal speaking now. "To have Setien here is a huge joy for us. He's a coach who has shown through the teams he has managed that his communcations and way of working is very good. Very focused on details, and he always reminds me of my time at Barcelona. Details are very important at Barcelona whatever the competition."

"We all know Setien is a huge fan of Johan Cruyff's style and we share the same objectives as you. Congratulations and welcome!"

"We have spoken to other coaches but we also spoke to Quique Setien. We spoke to other coaches but we did not publish this information."

"We also spoke with him in recent days. Why did we make the change now? We are halfway through the season and we wanted to make a change to give the team a boost, so we though this new dynamic would inspire us to win the league and the Champions and Copa del Rey too."

"The dynamic in the team could be improved, we are in the next round of the Champions League and the Copa is getting started and we felt it was a dynamic we could improve. We spoke about this many times with Valverde... very openly with him and we have always been very close to Ernesto Valverde with a good relationship and have always spoken about what could be improved..."

Abidal, Bartomeu and Setién on the stage now and they pose with a Barcelona jersey with Quique Setién on the beck. And Bartomeu speaks....

"Thank you all for coming to the presentation of Quique Setien as the new manager of Barcelona."

Quique Setien is taking a role that is filled with promise but he does have some things to figure out. Here are some of the early challenges he has as the new manager of Barcelona.

The Barcelona players had come out to support Valverde after the Atlético Madrid game. It was just one defeat on a big stage too many. There was of course the defeat to Rome and then the collapse against Liverpool along with the loss to Valencia in the Copa del Rey final at the end of last year too. Here are five games where it went all wrong for Valverde.

Luis Suárez says: "Thank you, coach, for all of the moments we have lived together as professional. The positives stick with me and everything you taught me and the great person you are. Thank you and your staff for your professionalism. I wish all of you the best of the luck for the future."

Little is known about Setién outside of Spain but becoming Barcelona manager will put him on the map internationally. He loves chess and is devoted to playing attacking, possession-based football. He managed Las Palmas and Real Betis before coming to Barça but neither of those situations ended well.

Here is a look at his right-hand man, Eder Sarabia as the world get to know Setién and the people close to him.

Ernesto Valverde has released a statement after his sacking. He has thanked Barcelona and wished them luck in the future.

“In that time I have enjoyed some joyful moments celebrating victories and trophies but also others that have been tough and difficult. However, above all I would like to highlight my experience with the fans and the affection showed towards me during my time as coach.

“I would like to thank the president Josep Maria Bartomeu and the Board of Directors for giving me the opportunity to coach the first team and their confidence during all this time.

Setién is rocking a nice black turtleneck with a blazer. Bartomeu in his usual suit and tie. Setien already setting himself apart.

Setien and Bartomeu sitting having a chat as the club president hands him contracts to sign.

Setien took his first session as the Barcelona manager today. Todibo did not train with the permission of the club. Iñaki Pena, R. Araujo, Riqui Puig, C. Pérez and Ansu Fati from Barça B also took part in the training session. 

The conference is taking place in Auditori 1899 and will kick off at 14:00.

Hello and welcome to Quique Setien's presentation as the manager of Barcelona. You are witnessing history here as this is the first of its kind since 2003. That was the last time Barcelona sacked a manager, during the season and needed a presentation to announce his replacement. It was Louis van Gaal back then and Ernesto Valverde this time.