Quique Setien reveals what he was doing before his appointment as Barca coach

Quique Setien admitted that he was in his hometown 'walking with cows' before the call came offering him the Barcelona job.

The 61-year-old took training on Tuesday morning before signing a contract until June 2022.

Speaking to the media after signing his contract, Setien said: 'Yesterday, I was walking around my hometown with cows around me and now I'm here at Barcelona managing the best players in the world.

'I want to thank this institution for giving me the chance. Not even in my wildest dreams could I have imagined this. I have to thank the club.

'I'm excited about this challenge and this project. That is the biggest thing I have to transmit to the players. I have to show the players that and normally it's not very complicated for me to transmit that.'

When asked why the decision was made to ditch Valverde mis-season, president Josep Bartomeu said: 'The dynamic in the team could be improved, we are in the next round of the Champions League and the Copa del Rey is getting started and we felt it was a dynamic we could improve.

'We spoke about this many times with Valverde, very openly with him and we have always been very close to Ernesto Valverde with a good relationship and have always spoken about what could be improved.'

Setien shared words with Lionel Messi on the pitch after that match and he will now manage the six-time Ballon d'Or winner. 

'To be able to manage the best in the world, and his team-mates - he has great team-mates - I have always spoken to him and others,' the club's new boss said. 

'I have always said that the admiration is one things but reality is different. Everyone needs to have their place. Messi is Messi, Busquets is Busquets.'