Barcelona face Napoli with just 13 senior players fit as Quique Setien is forced to rely on kids
BARCELONA boss Quique Setien will count on the kids to beat Napoli in their Champions League clash.
The Catalan club have just 13 senior players available for tonight’s tie at Camp Nou.
They will be without suspended midfield duo Sergio Busquets and Arturo Vidal as well as the injured Samuel Umtiti and Ousmane Dembele.
Juventus-bound midfielder Arthur has also made things worse for Setien after refusing to return to training since the conclusion of LaLiga.
Having a thin squad means Setien will have to rely on 17-year-old Ansu Fati and Riqui Puig, 20.
And if they do start, I am sure they will be guaranteed to play well
Quique Setien
He said: “Both Riqui and Ansu are ready to play.
“They have performed and played pretty well and could perfectly well start.
“And if they do start, I am sure they will be guaranteed to play well.”
Setien also cooled speculation that the game could be his last as Barca boss if they fail to overcome Napoli.
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The former Real Betis chief has been under intense pressure since losing out on the LaLiga title to rivals Real Madrid, leading Lionel Messi to call his side “weak”.
But Setien, whose side go into the match locked at 1-1 after February’s first leg, added: “In no moment have I thought the game could be my last.
“We are focused on advancing and playing the rest of the competition in Portugal with the same sense of excitement that we feel now.”