The Spanish soccer team started the League of Nations with a discreet draw (1-1) against Portugal in a match played this Thursday at the Benito Villamarín stadium, a duel decided seven minutes from the end with a goal from Ricardo Horta in his second game as a Portuguese international. Luis Enrique's team advanced on the scoreboard in the 24th minute with a goal from Morata. Gavi opened the band for Sarabia and he put it on the other side for the man from Madrid who did not forgive Diogo Costa to score the first of the night.
"We are without a voice for a change. I'm out of training, it's clear," assured the Spanish coach in Seville tonight, who lamented that his team had not "managed the 1-1 play well" practically at the end of the game, although he admitted "they they have done very well" and have frustrated a Spain that has "generated more chances" against a team that "is one of the best in the world. The attitude of my players has been very good. And I have loved the atmosphere that it has been lived" in the Benito Villamarín.
For Luis Enrique, "it was a match similar to the previous ones against them", which also ended in a draw, and he believes that Spain has "been very well", despite the fact that "it has been tied, we could have won and we could have lost "because to beat Portugal, it is necessary "to be at a very high level. With 1-0, the second goal was able to come", he added that "it is difficult to endure pressing for 90 minutes".
The Asturian coach was, therefore, "more than satisfied with the game" and, especially, with the performance of midfielder Pablo Páez 'Gavi', who "runs, fights and with the ball is a very special player. He has a goal. With 18 years is a unique player", whom he has replaced "because he has received a blow to the calf". Luis Enrique believes that Gavi "is unknown to Spanish football" and also praised Ferrán Torres, who has "spectacular numbers playing on the wing, although he hasn't had his best day today", but insisted that "his season has been exceptional, better games will come".
Luis Enrique thanked the people for the applause at the break when he went out to rally and hinted that the Barça player, Ansu Fati, will not play the next game because "he comes to help us in the long term. I like what I see in training, but I think he still lacks rhythm. You have to trust the coach. I like that people want Ansu".
The coach also highlighted the efforts of Álvaro Morata - who "has scored 26 goals in 53 games" with Spain. "He's not bad" and although "he has never scored 30 goals for his clubs, he is always in his numbers" and today "he was superb. He is a very powerful player, who heads well. He is a very interesting striker".
The player from Madrid called it a "good game" against Portugal, although "there was a lack of finishing it off" because, among other reasons, "there was a great team up front".
"We haven't finished off and they have tied. Football is like that. We are going to continue working and think about tomorrow's training," the Italian Juventus striker told Teledeporte.
Morata has warned that "in this group", which is completed by Switzerland and the Czech Republic, "there are no easy rivals" so it will be necessary to "prepare all the matches well". Regarding his future, the Spanish striker commented that "the only thing I can do is keep working and stay focused here".
The next commitment will be this Sunday against the Czech Republic on the occasion of the second day of the Nations League.
