Luis Enrique is not at all worried about the defeat and the bad image of the national team on Saturday in Zaragoza against Switzerland. At the press conference prior to Tuesday's match in Braga against Portugal, in which Spain needs a victory to qualify for the Nations League final four, the Asturian coach showed his usual vehement speech and sure of his ideas. "Then I analyzed the Switzerland game and after all the first half we did was not so bad. It was a wrong message from me (he said that Spain was very imprecise on the pitch after the defeat). I highlight the defensive role of Switzerland , who was fortunate to make set pieces, where the differences between the teams disappear".
The coach delved into the issue of strategy plays from set pieces: "I don't intend to work on them exhaustively because I conceded two against Switzerland, although we analyzed them. I remember a streak as a player in which a coach had a lot of influence on it, on working on it , and we were still a mess. My concern now is to get the players back to win tomorrow."
The coach doesn't see the game as a rehearsal for Qatar either: "We're going to approach it as if it were the World Cup quarterfinals. We like the stadium, the situation, the rival...it's only worth winning. to do. A final is nice and you don't play many...less with the National Team. We're going to measure up. That we're going to go to the World Cup and that we're not going to die of fear, I can guarantee it to anyone", he assured.
Luis Enrique did not complain about the state of the grass either. It is so bad that both teams trained in another field so as not to harm it more. "Since it is not in the best conditions, they have warned us that we cannot step on the areas, so they have offered us another field. I have seen it and it was not so bad. The stadium is beautiful because of how different it is from the others," he commented. .
Luis Enrique expects a different match from Switzerland. "Switzerland defended with eight physically very strong men inside their area. What one tries to control comes out differently. What I have no doubt about is that we are going to compete. We have three recent precedents in which we did it. They do not need so much to score a goal. So we're going to try to take the game to our ground".
The coach praised Portugal's football: "She is always very talented and tries to play good football; she has very good individuals and a good physique. In addition, she has won the European Championship and the Nations League. It is like Spain, their youth categories are among the best in the world. Unlike Spain, they do have more accomplished players who are regulars on their teams".
Luis Enrique analyzed the defeat against Switzerland: "There was a lack of precision in the last third, when we got to the area. We were very imprecise there. I hope it doesn't happen again. When I see the level of training, I say: 'My goodness!' We have a lot of resources and solvency and we take everything very calmly." We thought about improving the ambition and the way we play."
For Luis Enrique, one cannot speak of a weaker line than another: "I don't care how old those who play are. I think the most powerful line I have is defense because here there is no line that simply has to be defended. strikers don't stay upstairs quietly smoking a cigarette until the ball reaches them...here they all defend and attack".
The coach denied that the defeat against Switzerland had changed his plans: "I came to the first game thinking one thing. After seeing the training I thought of another and after Switzerland, another. Now, I prepare the team to play a final. And tomorrow I will bring out a team to put Portugal in the greatest difficulties, as I did in Zaragoza against Switzerland. The changes in the eleven is up to you. So you will see that being a coach is a little more complicated than being a journalist. Play journalists and see what you think. Surely not there is unanimity," he said.
Luis Enrique also valued how young the Spanish team is: "Now we have had to lose after eleven months without losing. The panorama of national team football has changed. I don't care about excuses, but we have many U-21 players. We are in a process of growing. But we have to improve and accept each loss as part of the process. The grades are the most important thing".
After Luis Enrique spoke Pablo Sarabia, who has returned to PSG after his loan last season to Sporting de Portugal. "Tomorrow is a final. We want to be in the final phase, we are aware of the rival's potential and we are preparing well, because nowadays any match is very difficult. The match is good for us to reach a final phase more competitive", he pointed.
The striker from Madrid does not care about playing with a point of reference or with a false nine: "We clearly have the idea that whoever plays has the same functions, even if they change between them. The idea is always the same and for me it does not change Nothing. I have my functions, what the coach tells me, and whether we play or not with a reference, it's the same for me".
