Villarreal's board were concerned about coach Quique Setien in preseason, it has been revealed.

Setien was sacked after just four games this week.

AS says the board expected the Cantabrian to change certain attitudes and ways of working, but in the end they were left disappointed.

It was hoped that in the face of his second season he would change some of his work practices that had already generated controversy last season. His idea of the game was convincing, his methodology not so much.

Villarreal, in this sense, added new coaches to join Setién's team. But he was not receptive to the changes. Setién's involvement with the coaches hired by the club was not what was expected. A situation that, from the board, began to generate some discomfort and distancing.

Then a confrontation with some heavyweights in the squad further left Setien isolated. And after a sluggish start to the season, the board chose to act.