The Spanish coach, Luis Enrique Martínez, in his appearance this Thursday. /
Nations league
The Spanish coach admits that perhaps it is “too early to call Gavi” and assures that Spain faces the ‘final four’ of the League of Nations as “a prize, without pressure”
Neither excuses for the injuries, nor fear of the potential of Italy, which has set the world record for a match without losing (37), nor the most difficult list, nor enter into puddles regarding the situation of Barcelona or the non-call of players from the Real Madrid, no added pressure. Always positive, Luis Enrique insisted after offering the call for players for the ‘final four’ of the League of Nations that it is “a prize” that the Spanish team has won and that now “it’s time to enjoy.”
The Spanish coach acknowledged that he wanted to bring Ansu Fati and confessed that perhaps it is too early to quote Barça player Gavi but that he totally trusts him. Faced with a hypothetical call from Joan Laporta to the Barça bench, the Asturian made it clear that he is a man of his word and guaranteed that he will fulfill his contract with the Spanish Football Federation.
“All cost and none cost. I have the great virtue of getting excited about the players very quickly and for me these are the 23 best that I have at my disposal. All coaches have problems and I focus on the positive, “said Luis Enrique in the Ciudad del Fútbol de Las Rozas.
Many questions surrounding Gavi, who has barely played two games as a starter for Barça and, at 17, may become the youngest debutant for Spain. “I have known him for a long time because he is a benchmark of the Barça youth academy and I have no doubt about the performance that he will give in the future. Whenever there is the misfortune that one player is injured, opportunities arise for another. It is a pure interior in the Barça style, very interesting with the ball and also without it. I want to see the players in the context of selection, but I’m sure he will be up to the task, “he said.
He was sarcastic when a Canal Sur journalist asked him if this call from Gavi means setting the bar for the national team very low: “There are already Andalusians on the list and now you want to load it …”, he ironically. «What is dangerous is taking risks with young players who do not have the necessary level. Perhaps it could be too soon, I will not deny it, and now he is not in the best context at his club, but I have the guarantee that he is ready even if he has played four little moments. You are not going to have any added pressure and demands. They only come to bring their freshness, although perhaps it can be a starter against Italy.
Praise also for Yéremi Pino, the other rookie: «He is a regular in the U21 team and has been on other lists already about to come. It has overflow, verticality, last pass, goal. He is a very interesting player with an effective defensive level, as shown every day as a team. Very qualified to be able to play in the selection ».
Around with the ‘9’
He spoke of the absence of a pure ‘9’: “It depends a lot on the interpretations. Ferran Torres plays more than nine in the City that end, Oyarzabal can also play there … I have always said that we try to reach the goal collectively, not for a player. And now it will not be an exception. Our approach of trying to dominate and push up doesn’t change anything.
He downplayed the fact that Marcos Llorente was summoned this time as a forward: “Nothing has changed. He is on the list of 23 and I wanted to put him as a forward. I’m sure he’s delighted to be on the list, even if I put him among the three goalkeepers. You can play the first game of defense, “he settled.
Very direct when insisting on the absence of Madrid players: «There are no players from clubs or autonomous communities. There are 23 Spaniards ». Have you called Marco Asensio ?: «He has come to the national team a lot and can return. Except for honorable exceptions, I am not to call the players neither for good news, nor for bad. He has my phone and if he wants to talk to me, I am a close, open and even attractive person »
Did you think about summoning Ansu Fati ?: «It is a great joy to be able to see him on a pitch. Yes, I wanted to bring him, even if it was not to play, but it is true that you have to put his entire situation in context, where he comes from, his time off, and I think the best thing is for him to continue quietly at his club so that in a future can help us ».
Regatéo when questioning him about the situation of Barça. «I have enough with mine to get into other people’s scrubs or chacos. Big clubs are always controversial and I have nothing more to say. What if Joan Laporta calls you and offers to be a Barça coach? “He does not have my phone number but I am a coach, they have called me twice from the Federation and I can assure you that I have a word and I will fulfill the signed contract.”
He is not concerned that Barça is the club that contributes the most players despite their bad moment. «We will be more attentive to all the players who do not have a good time at their clubs. What I always do is tell everyone that they are in another team and that the context of the national team is neither better nor worse, but it is different from that of their clubs ”, remarked Luis Enrique.
He came back to defend Eric García, the focus of criticism at his club and the national team: “He comes because I know he is a great player. I know where that question comes from. You have to know how to handle fair or unfair criticism if you want to be a high-level player, as is the case with Eric.
Rematch of the Eurocup
Forced to refer to Italy, adversary in another semifinal: «They are right now at the peak of their moment because they deservedly won the Euro Cup, they continue to have a streak of matches without losing, they have broken the world record. But as our psychologist Joaquín Valdés says, every day they are closer to losing ».
Pressure? : «We have earned playing this ‘final four’, enjoying ourselves and perhaps it will be one of the easiest concentrations because we are going without any pressure. I will try to convey to the players the same ‘feeling’ as in the European Championship. Against an opponent who has the record of games without losing and who plays at home, what pressure are we going to have. There will always be media noise and that is positive.
Revenge ?: «He has a special curiosity and we know that they will demand a lot from us. It is a team with a philosophy very similar to ours. They start from behind, with Donarumma, with a lot of quality. I hope that a spectacular match will be seen again, with two approaches from the coaches in the same vein. In the Eurocup we could not defeat them and now we will try again ».
Finally, Luis Enrique was challenged by the overloaded calendar and FIFA’s desire for a World Cup every two years. “You have to unify it and reduce it in some way because with such an intense schedule it is clear that players are injured more. I am not the person qualified to recommend where to remove matches from, but it would be the most beneficial. As a coach, I would be delighted with a World Cup every two years, but the schedule is exaggerated and it hurts the player, the weaker side.
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