Quique Setien has no concerns about Barcelona failing to sign a striker in the January transfer window because Ousmane Dembele will be amazing when he returns from injury.
Barca director Guillermo Amor confirmed before Thursday s 5-0 Copa del Rey last-16 victory over Leganes that no back-up to Luis Suarez – ruled out until May with a knee injury – will be signed, negotiations for Valencia attacker Rodrigo Moreno having broken down.
Lionel Messi scored twice and was involved in the other three goals as Setien s side enjoyed serene progress to the quarter-finals, with Antoine Griezmann, Clement Lenglet and Arthur hitting the target.
Setien acknowledged the lack of a new signing leaves Barca s attack in a precarious position, though Dembele has been eased back into full training since the weekend having been sidelined since November with a thigh injury.
Asked about the lack of a signing, Setien said: I will be calm. There is a risk of injury and it cannot be controlled. I am used to working with what I have.
It was not to be. The market did not give us anything, but we will also recover Dembele.
He is a player who has specific attributes and I think he can give us a lot. He feels comfortable out wide and we will try to take advantage of that.
I m sure he will give us a lot with the potential he has and will demonstrate the great player he is. Dembele is going to be amazing.
Brand new training kit!
— FC Barcelona (@FCBarcelona)
Dembele signed from Borussia Dortmund for an initial €105million in August 2017 but has frequently struggled with injuries.
Barca s victory over Leganes saw them emphatically bounce back from the first defeat of Setien s tenure, a 2-0 loss to Valencia on Saturday that saw them fall three points behind Real Madrid in LaLiga s title race.
We did very well in the first 20 to 25 minutes. It s true they could have hurt us, but we did many things well. However, I am not entirely satisfied, Setien said of Thursday s display.
We scored but we lost control of the game and gave them a lot of life when we had to control the game.
