The Luis de la Fuente era has not started in the best way. The Spanish team has only played two games with the new coach, but the first conclusions can (and should) be drawn. In fact, the best way to test the level of the equipment is by comparing it with the previous version. That is to say: Luis de la Fuente vs. Luis Enrique.
The stormy World Cup in Qatar for a team as personal as Luis Enrique’s ended up fostering a palpable division among the Spanish fans. A team with a very defined style that died with his ideas. A dead king, king set. And Rubiales gave command to Luis de la Fuente to try to swerve the leadership of La Roja. Two games later the conclusions are confusing, but evident.
THE LIST
Here come the first notable differences. The national team has gone from taking a single born striker to the World Cup (Morata) to summon four (Morata, Joselu, Norja Churches and Aspas). Thus, first of all, it is clear that De la Fuente wanted to alleviate Spain’s great hindrance in Qatar: the goal.
But the differences do not end here by any means. It seems that the new boss is holding on to meritocracy with the calls of David Garcia and Nacho. Two central defenders, unprecedented under Luis Enrique, but with great performance at their clubs. Eric García and Pau Torres, fixed in the previous stage, they did not even enter the list of 26 of the La Rioja coach.
The inclusion of Iago Aspas and the non-call of Ferran Torres They made it clear that the team had changed course. As the Galician says: “Green always rewards”.
The melon in the goal will not open until June when unai simon is recovered from his injury and De la Fuente is forced to choose between the Athletic goalkeeper and Kepa
THE ELEVEN
The strong personality of Luis de la Fuente was clear from his first eleven. Goodbye 4-3-3 and hello 4-2-3-1. A novelty that is far from fundamental, but it suggests that the coach’s new attitude is to break completely with the past. The double pivot formed by Rodri and Mikel Merino seems non-negotiable in this new period that is coming.
De la Fuente wants the creators to be the midfielders and not the defenders. In fact, his bet is on specialist central defenders, leaving aside his release of the ball. A simpler football: defenders to defend, midfielders to create and forwards to score goals. That simple, that complicated.
THE STYLE
“We did not have a plan B,” Aspas denounced at a press conference. It is a message that the Federation repeats non-stop to argue the dismissal of Luis Enrique. And, of course, the data seems to support this theory. Spain was going to win or die playing their style. And he died against the Moroccan wall without changing the strategy despite the collective despair.
But, has De la Fuente achieved that long-awaited plan B? Yes and no. Surely, the only differential factor is Joselu. A header like few others in LaLiga that almost completely reverses the team’s intentions. Perfect for tight defenses and direct play. Against Norway the play went perfectly: two goals and plan B achieved. Before Scotland it was another story.
And it is that, curiously, if we compare the statistics of Scotland-Spain and Morocco-Spain we find very similar data. A possession above 75% and few shots on goal. It is a big problem that accompanies La Roja and that De la Fuente has not yet managed to alleviate. In just two games it seems impossible to change a game trend that has accompanied the team for the last twenty years.
The extreme rotation (eight changes) that De la Fuente made is something very difficult to see in Luis Enrique’s teams. The Asturian usually bets on the same block by adding or modifying small details, but with a clear idea of basic players.
THE FIGURES
De la Fuente’s eleven against Scotland drew a lot of attention. Only one player from Real Madrid and none from Barça and Atlético. The three ‘big’ of Spanish football only had one player in the team (Ceballos) and he is also a substitute. Taking a look at the chosen ones, we find many players in clubs far removed from the Champions League positions at the moment: Gayá, David García, Joselu, Yeremi Pino and Íñigo Martínez.
On the contrary, Luis Enrique preferred to pull the heavyweights to give more packaging to his team. In the ‘final’ against Morocco, all the players the Asturian brought out belonged to Champions League teams except the goalkeeper. Five from Barça (Alba, Gavi, Busquets, Pedri and Ferran), one from Real Madrid (Asensio), one from Atlético (Llorente), two from City (Laporte and Rodri) and one from Lepizig (Omo).
Experience for exceptional situations or deliberate commitment to meritocracy. Two ways of looking at the team that contrast radically.
