“The sense of fullness I have with these 26 players is maximum. We have succeeded in creating more than a selection, a team,” the national coach underlines
Luis Enrique thinks Spain will rank highly at the World Cup which kicks off in just over a week. “The sense of fullness I have with these 26 players is maximum. We have succeeded in creating more than a selection, a team. Fully convinced we are going to go to war in Qatar,” the national coach said after reeling off a list of an attractive mix of young people who broke the door in record time and veterans dressed in a thousand and one fights. In short, an author’s block that sets no limits, as the leader recalled. “My bar is infinite. My goal is to compete every match. There is no one outside of Spain who excludes Spain as a candidate to be among the best. There is no doubt that we are going to go to war, as in the European one. What is the difference? That we have turned an adverse situation around. The fans are committed to the team and we will try to give the work back,” said the Spaniard.
Satisfied that he had prepared what he described as “a great list”, he revealed that he had two doubts until the last minute, one regarding the striker and the second regarding the pivot. In the attack, the dilemma was whether or not to summon Ansu Fati, who was dismissed in September but has now been called up, partly because the future of the national team largely depends on his punch.
“We bet on him for others. Ansu’s level is unquestionable. He has been through a difficult process. I hesitated until the last second. The illusion I have in reclaiming the best Ansu has had an influence. Is nearby? But? We will see. It’s not fixed at his club, but good. I think it can be a great incentive, but there are doubts that need to be cleared. We’ll see during the World Cup,” he said of the Barca diamond.
The technician avoided talking about absences. “There are players who could be perfect and have been left out,” he limited himself to pointing out, preferring to focus on the 26 players called up to defend La Roja with different proper names on the table such as Hugo Guillamón or Yéremy Pino. “He is a player who comes regularly and who grows and brings together everything we want for broad players. He has quality, he has a goal,” he pointed out to the Villarreal winger.
With regard to the Valencia youth squad, he stressed that his versatility helped open a hole for him. “It’s beneficial for him to play as a pivot. Thanks to the way his team plays, he gives me a very valid option,” said the coach, who believes the block offers very varied resources. «With 26 I have covered all positions. Whether it’s the best or not, time will tell. In terms of what we thought was important, we arrived in the best way and met our best expectations. We’re not going to change the way we play. I don’t think anyone is saying we’re a fun dance partner,” he insisted.
The national team will keep its hallmarks intact in Qatar, the same ones that have adorned La Roja since the Asturian coach took over. “I am not going to change to go to the World Cup. This is Luis Enrique’s squad. We are not dying of fear. There is no doubt what you are going to see in Spain. These are our qualities. If it will achieve the result , it is impossible to predict,” he added.
He reasoned his decision to cover the full quota of 26 footballers allowed by FIFA this time, while only calling 24 during the European Championship. “The Euro didn’t allow everyone on the bench. From this World Cup, the approach changes. The ability to hire more players implies that we can have more people and solutions. I have no problem managing it. With common sense. This is not a competition for everyone to leave happy,” he said.
He praised Busquets, the most veteran of the pack and the subject of discussion for his physique. “My goal is to convince Busi to play another World Cup. This is like Rafa Nadal. Is there any doubt that it has been the best in history? If we rank Nadal in what number would you put him in? If we have the ball more than the rival, Busquets becomes number 1. But I don’t see anyone on the world stage better than Busi to play what we’re playing,” commented Luis Enrique.
Regarding the decision to call Asensio, he revealed that “the critical point was the previous call”, as it demonstrated his validity for the Asturian project and his situation at Real Madrid has also changed, after a difficult start to the season. “He turned it around. It has been decisive. For us he is a player who can play on the wing. He also played false nine and can be unpredictable. This is an upward situation,” he said.
He explained that despite only having a mere nine, in the expedition that travels to Qatar next week, he has plenty of alternatives to the spearhead. “Of the eight, Álvaro (Morata) is the most nine. Dani Olmo has already played in the semi-finals as nine, Ferran plays on the wing but can play inside. Ansu can play indoors,’ he summed up.
Finally, he called his work a lookout for the group. “I’ve been lucky enough to train teams with the best players in the world and I’ve accepted my role of leader and tried to adapt everything to make it work. I’ve coached other types of teams too. Here I can choose what I think the idea we have interprets best. The hard work is in the field. My job is to coordinate them and amplify their virtues. We tend to fixate on mistakes. They have to surrender. That is my goal in this World Cup,” he said.
Source: La Verdad
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