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Setien still expects to be Barcelona coach next season
Though the Catalan club are set to lose out to Real Madrid for the title, their current boss is confident he will stay at Camp Nou
Quique Setien expects to remain as Barcelona coach next season despite it looking unlikely he will guide them to La Liga success.
Setien replaced Ernesto Valverde in January and was appointed on a two-and-a-half-year deal, with his possession-based brand of football thought to be a good fit for the club after fans grew frustrated with his predecessor.
But the former Real Betis coach has not been able to inspire the kind of improvement some hoped for, while draws with Celta Vigo and Atletico Madrid at the end of June look set to cost them in the title race.
Barca are four points adrift of Real Madrid, who will clinch the title on Thursday if they beat Villarreal at the Estadio Alfredo Di Stefano.
Club icon Xavi has been frequently linked with a return to Barca as coach, though Setien believes it will still be him at the helm next term.
"Of course, I see myself training Barca next season," he told reporters. "I have already experienced this before.
"The reality is that the expectations one has haven't been achieved, or not yet, but the work done is what must be valued.
"This is what I understand, or what I would like to see assessed. Of course, I think about next year's continuity."
Regarding the seemingly imminent confirmation of failure in La Liga, he added: "I take my share of the responsibility, but not all of it.
"Making that assessment of finding a culprit always focuses on the coach. I don't feel that we did things so badly, drawing three games [since the resumption]. More merit should go to Madrid, who have won every game."
Luis Suarez has already effectively accepted defeat in the title race publicly, though Setien is retaining faith Madrid will slip up.
"That is his opinion. It is not yet [over] because anything can happen, but it is difficult," Setien continued.
"It requires a team that has won every game [since the season resumed] to lose. We have had three draws that make this difference.
"Obviously Madrid have done better because they have won all eight games. It is possible that a circumstance can arise [where Barca can win the title]. We will fight until the end."
