Marcos Llorente delves into a set from the Spain-Georgia match. /
Analysis
Georgia’s balsamic thrashing puts the focus on Llorente and Soler’s virtues, not on Luis Enrique’s gestures or his tense relationship with the press
Georgia is one of those rivals that does not allow to draw great conclusions about the level of Spain, since the victory and even the win are taken for granted and only a hit is news. But the resounding victory achieved by the Red in the Nuevo Vivero de Badajoz cuts the bleeding that caused the defeat in Sweden.
The debate has returned to the footballing path and is moving away from extra-sports controversies more typical of the times of Javier Clemente on the Spanish bench. Luis Enrique was one of the praetorians of Barakaldo’s coach as a footballer and perhaps that is why when bad results arrive, he diverts attention and points to journalism as the closest enemy.
Resolved, or at least parked, the dispute over whether or not the informants call the Spanish coach, nothing relevant, the fundamental thing is that Spain recovered sensations and overcame the slump that fell in Solna after a European Championship to dream of a better future .
The first key is to understand that Spain was neither dead nor now we have to uncork the cava. It is a young team, in transition, with comings and goings, capable of winning, losing and above all drawing with anyone if they do not have a good day. It is not a team of stars, there is enough equality between the summoned and the tactical and mental aspects take on great relevance.
The second detail is that Luis Enrique, like it or not, exercises with personality. He does what he believes and what he wants, oblivious to external pressures. For this reason, and because he knows that soldiers must be defended especially when they are attacked, he insisted with Eric García and Aymeric Laporte as centrals. It does not seem a couple of guarantees for great battles, especially compared to the Sergio Ramos-Gerard Piqué tandem, but the Gijonian does not give his arm to twist and reinforces them.
The third consideration goes through the position of Marcos Llorente, lethal against the Georgians as a right inside. Luis Enrique retreated in the Eurocup and finished with Azpilicueta on the right side instead of the Madrid player; Now, perhaps he has finally concluded that Llorente is an inexhaustible source of generation of chances in the demarcation where Cholo Simeone discovered him and that he is wasted as a defense. “Indoors I had the best season of my career, it’s where I feel better and the coaches know it,” Llorente stressed after assisting Carlos Soler and Ferran in two of the first three goals against Georgia. «I listen to all the players, but the one who decides is the coach. Marcos’ versatility gives us a lot, it allows us to be able to use him in various places », Luis Enrique added.
Luis Enrique must be applauded for his insistence on Ferran and his confidence in Sarabia, both scorers
Another great news is the appearance of Carlos Soler, who has entered the absolute as if he had been a lifetime. Quality, self-confidence, work, tactical intelligence and finishing, with two goals in two games. The Valencian managed to not miss Pedri. Having scoring midfielders is key in every winning team. “Also in the European Championship players like Koke came a lot from behind,” warned the coach when he insisted on this matter.
Overflow and arrival
Luis Enrique must be applauded for his insistence on Ferran Torres and his commitment to Pablo Sarabia, authors of nine and four goals in 19 and 11 games with the senior team, respectively. The Spaniard praised both of them for their outpouring of band, vision, ability to attend, arrival and collective involvement. He even applauded that the Madrilenian has left PSG, where the battle for a position is brutal with Neymar, Messi and Mbappé in the team, and his landing at Sporting de Portugal.
Rodri Hernández should be required to assume a little more risk and depth in the passes, since he abuses the touch of security, but continues to make merits to compete for the position to Busquets. And the goal remains. Unai Simón is the starter, but the premiere of Robert Sánchez, very much liked by the coach for his size and being a brave guy, very driven forward, does not allow the Basque to relax. “The role in that position has changed and we do not know if he will do it again, insisted Luis Enrique. De Gea, formerly a titular, is out of focus.
.
