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Quique Setien refusing to get involved with Lionel Messi-Eric Abidal spat

:Headline: Quique Setien refusing to get involved with Lionel Messi-Eric Abidal spat: ID:388860: from db_amp
Lionel Messi has criticised club director Eric Abidal for comments he made in a Spanish newspaper interview.

Barcelona manager Quique Setien believes there are problems at clubs all round the world in response to Lionel Messi's row with Eric Abidal.

Club director Abidal claimed in a Spanish newspaper that a number of Barcelona players were not working hard enough under Ernesto Valverde, who was sacked last month.

But in a lengthy Instagram post, Messi, who played alongside Abidal, took aim at his former team-mate for his comments.

Setien was dealt a huge injury blow on Tuesday when it was confirmed that Ousmane Dembele has been ruled out for the remainder of the season.

The France international, 22, suffered a hamstring tear on his return to training, having been sidelined since November with a thigh problem.

Setien added: "I am worried not about Dembele as a footballer, but more Dembele the person. He is an extraordinary kid, and he worked with intensity and desire to come back.

"I am very sad for him because he is going to be sidelined for four to five months without football which is what he likes the most. That is what really hurts me."

Barcelona will be overwhelming favourites to win the quarter-final tie against a Bilbao side that has failed to win in their last seven league matches.

But 38-year-old striker Aritz Aduriz, now in his third spell with the club, said: "It's a wonderful challenge. When you play football, you dream of having this kind of matches.

"I hope we can have a memorable night at San Mames. One always dreams about that."

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TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Barcelona13110240122833
2Atletico MadridAtletico148512181329
3Real Madrid1283125111427
4Villarreal127322319424
5Osasuna136341720-321
6Athletic Bilbao135531913620
7Real BetisBetis145541616020
8Real Sociedad135351110118
9Mallorca135351010018
10GironaGirona135351617-118
11Celta Vigo135262022-217
12Rayo Vallecano124441313016
13Sevilla134361218-615
14Leganes133551316-314
15Getafe142751011-113
16AlavesAlaves144191524-913
17Las PalmasLas Palmas133371622-612
18Valencia122461219-710
19Espanyol123181122-1110
20Real ValladolidValladolid142391027-179
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