“If someone wants us to win matches 15-0, they don’t know what modern football is,” said the national coach, who left a message to Gavi: “He has a lot to improve on, on and off the field.”
Luis Enrique thinks some of the criticism the national team has received in recent days is unjustified, because what he says has become clear again in the first three days of the League of Nations is the equality that exists in the panorama stream. «It is interesting to raise doubts in the selection. If anyone wants us to win matches 15-0, they don’t know what modern football is. Is not easy. We have a good selection,” the Asturian coach defended at the press conference before the match between La Roja and the Czech Republic at the La Rosaleda stadium in Malaga.
The coach from Gijón was annoyed last week by the analyzes made on the Spanish national team’s draws against Portugal and the Czech Republic and the hasty victory over Switzerland. He did not like that it is personalized in some footballers when it comes to examining mistakes and weaknesses, and he believes that the level of demand from rivals is not enough. “Look at the Nations League and World Cup champions, France. Nobody wins easily. If you pretend we’re different, we’re no different. It’s impossible, but not for us, for everyone,” he was abundant in a performance where he refused to rate his troop. “He wasn’t a good student. I’m not very good at taking notes. It wasn’t bad “My kids listen to me, but it wasn’t great. I don’t put notes, you already put them,” he broke off.
His intervention on the Costa del Sol left a puzzling message about Gavi, whom he hasn’t stopped praising since calling him up last October for the final ‘four finals’ of the League of Nations to be played in Italy. “Gavi has a lot to improve on, on and off the pitch,” he replied when asked if Barca’s young talent looked like him dressed in shorts. What did you mean?, they insisted. “It’s a broad spectrum so everyone can draw what they think is appropriate. It is a good phrase that will be good for everyone, both those from the outside and those from within,” he replied, without giving more details.
Luis Enrique hinted that it will be very difficult for Iñigo Martínez, who was absent from La Roja’s final practice session due to a foot problem, to be available for the Czech Republic game. “Since always, the first thing I tell the players is that I’m not going to take any risks, even if it’s a commonplace. If we took risks, it’s because of the exclusive wish of the player. Iñigo was punched, his foot is swollen and we’ll see if he can play,” he said of the condition of the Athletic centre-back, the author of the goal that confirmed the equalizing goal in Prague a week ago.
He was pleased with Ansu Fati’s evolution, although he once again insisted that the best thing about the Barca forward is to take it easy. “After seeing his level, the injury is a thing of the past. He could play as a starter, as a substitute, not play… But it’s positive, because I’ve seen him better. He is a recovered player in my opinion. He is a unique player in his relationship with the goal. We were one of the first to bring it. It’s coming off a very difficult year,” he explained.
He stressed the need to raise the offensive bar to damage his rival, who had Spain in its grip in Prague this Sunday. “Czech Republic was top-tier because of its density and the number of players it gathered. We need to generate more scoring opportunities and I hope that the pace of the game is higher than there, that the heat takes its toll and that the fans carry us on wings,” said Luis Enrique.
With regard to the World Cup in Qatar, he indicated two favorites. “Argentina, I see it above the rest. And Brazil too. Especially since some Brazilian media will come and say ‘you said Argentina is above’. Argentina and Brazil, way above the rest,” he explained.
Source: La Verdad
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