Quique Setién has always been a curious manager. Since his early days as a manager, the Cantabrian has been a self-proclaimed Cruyffista, emulating his tactics and in-game management on the principles laid out by the Dutch great.
In truth, Setién’s version of possession-heavy football diverts significantly from Cruyff’s original conception. The Cantabrian likes to work within the same framework, yes, but his application of the very tenets is different. For instance, Setién vehemently believes in sticking to his principles, but he is far more laissez-faire than most other Cruyffistas. At Barça, Setién has usually been hesitant with substitutions and tactical changes.