The coach admits that La Roja needs to improve, but assures that the problems in the strategic actions are “a cliché” and hopes to win the final in Portugal.
Luis Enrique didn’t have a good face after a defeat to Switzerland in La Romareda that hampered Spain’s standings for the ‘final four’ of the League of Nations. He acknowledged that La Roja did not deliver the level he had seen during the pre-season in Las Rozas, but the Asturian coach was confident of winning the final in Portugal.
“The match started with the same intention as always, but with a rival who presses very well, who is very strong physically and who prevented us from playing football. In the first half we were inaccurate, no, the next, nothing like what we saw during the week,” the coach confessed in his first reflection on Teledeporte. “We came in better in the second half, but conceded another goal from a corner as soon as we equalized. Football continues to surprise you. They said Switzerland was going to be easy, but it beat us,” he insisted.
Gijón’s coach was disappointed when he was questioned about the two goals against from set pieces. “It’s a topicazo of football and now people will say that if we fall short. Of course you have to work on strategies from the rules of the game, but I like the confidence the team has had. The final is in Portugal and we will be there to try and win.
He referred to the changes and the performance of Marco Asensio, author of the move that preceded Jordi Alba’s goal. “The strikers have a lot of attacking and defensive demands, they have to run a lot and the strange thing is that they finish a game. I think in general they have all been good and have done what I asked them. I like Marco Asensio very much , but it was difficult to make progress.”
The debutants?: «I saw them very well despite the difficulty. Nico has overflow and quality and Borja has finesse, continuity and physique. They’ve been very progressive, that’s what I like. Finally, he lamented Yeremi Pino’s constant fouls, which ended with a painful sandwich on his leg. He did not expect to make many changes in Braga on Tuesday, although they are foreseeable.
Jordi Alba was the first to show his face after the defeat against the Swiss. His goal, the preliminary draw, was insufficient. “We were very thick in the first half and we conceded a strategic goal. Then we did the hardest, but immediately in another unfortunate move, also in strategy, they made us second. They are a great selection and it was difficult. We knew we had a chance but we have another one in Portugal and we are really looking forward to getting to the ‘last four’ Thanks Luis Enrique for his trust and all you have to do now is answer him on the field.”
Borja Iglesias was the first of two debutants for La Roja in La Romareda, a field he knows well from his time at Zaragoza. He always tried, but couldn’t stand the Swiss rock. Trust to win in Braga. “I wanted a win for my debut, but I’m happy and I’m very grateful to the coach, my teammates and this city where they always show me affection. They pushed hard, they harassed us a lot and it’s not easy. We have to go through and on Tuesday we have an important final. We are dependent on ourselves and that is what has been sought since the beginning of the competition. We really want to play matches of this level and we are convinced that we will go to Portugal to win.”
Nico Williams came into the final stretch, he also made his senior team debut, but he also didn’t get out of balance with his speed and dribbling. “It’s been a big step in my career. The coach asked me to be myself, like at Athletic, and play one-on-one, but you can’t do that against very strong rivals. We knew they were very strong from set pieces and we couldn’t counter them, we can’t lower our arms, we are mentally strong and I hope we win in Portgual,
Source: La Verdad
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