After a disappointing world cup outing in the just concluded Russia 2018 FIFA world cup, the Spanish Football Federation has unveiled ex-international and former Barcelona player and coach, Luis Enrique as the new national team coach.
Luis Enrique official unveiling makes him the third coach to be taking over the Spanish national team, after the sacking of now Real Madrid coach Julen Lopetegui and the resignation of caretaker coach Fernando Hierro after their world cup exit. In his press conference, Enrique said he is ready to work, saying:
“I’m very excited about this challenge and the possibility of ratcheting the team up a notch. I’ll be giving it everything I have,” the 48-year-old told the attending media. “I’m ready and really eager to win the competitions that await us. All I can say is, ‘Let’s go win them!’”
On Fernando Hierro, he said:
“He is the only coach with whom we got in touch. It’s been very straightforward because of his commitment and passion, and we’ll be doing everything we can to make him feel comfortable,” he said.
On the choice of Luis Enrique, Jose Francisco Molina, calls the former Barcelona coach a him a “modern coach with a great work methodology”.
He said, they are tring to revolutionalize the team and Enrique is the perfect man for the job, saying:
“Let there be no doubt: we’re going to continue with the same style. The coach stated categorically that there would be no radical changes to the team’s playing style, insisting that the style founded and defined by [former Spain coach] Luis Aragones was what they should continue with.
That said, the new coach was clear that there would be changes. The team can evolve. A player must be given weapons. The team has been a standard bearer, with everyone studying what we do… We’ll continue to play a possession game but with subtle variations to improve things.
Tactically, there are a lot of things we can improve.” One of the objectives, as the coach himself explained, is to improve effectiveness in front of goal – a shortcoming the team has had in recent years, as was evident in Russia.
Converting chances is the most difficult aspect. We have a lot of work to do with the players in this respect. We’ll come up against opponents who respect us and who will defend en masse. That’s where our work will come in – enabling our players to recognise those instances and overcome them.”