Barcelona boss Setién upbeat despite Copa del Rey defeat
Barcelona were knocked out of the Copa by Athletic Club but Quique Setién felt his team performed well: "Ter Stegen idn't have a save to make all night".
Barcelona coach Quique Setién feels his team are heading in the righ direction, despite crashing out of the Copa del Rey on Thursday. Iñaki Williams' 93rd-minute goal condemned last season's runners-up Barça to a 1-0 defeat against Athletic Club in the quarter-finals.
Positives to be taken from Athletic defeat - Setién
Barça have lost back-to-back away games under Setién, who replaced Ernesto Valverde last month, however the Spanish boss maintains that the defending LaLiga champions are back on track.
"Taking into account what has happened to us in other games away from home, we have taken a step forward in terms of what we have to improve," Setién told reporters. "It is the same as ever; there are days when you have one chance and put it in, and there are days where you have ten and can't do it. There isn't a reasonable explanation. I have never known what to blame it on. Their goal came from a play that wasn't dangerous. There are things that can't be controlled and this is one of them. Everything went well, except for the result. I am happy with the team's work."
Quiet night for Ter Stegen
The Barça coach went on to add: "We controlled the second half. Marc-Andre [ter Stegen] didn't have any saves to make and it was a shame because we had the game under control. We created several clear chances and they got the goal when there was no time for us to react. We looked good and we were the better team. We didn't win but it will come. It is a pity the competition doesn't give us the chance for revenge but we must be positive despite not deserving to be eliminated."
Focus returns to LaLiga for Barcelona
Barça, who are three points behind LaLiga leaders Real Madrid, travel to Setién's former club Real Betis on Sunday.