Positive start to Enrique’s reign
Former Barca coach ditches tikitaka for more direct football as Spain record 21 win over England
MADRID: Spain returned to winning ways with their 2-1 victory over England in the Nations League on Saturday after their disastrous time at the World Cup but the most striking element of their performance was the new identity they are forming under coach Luis Enrique.
Against England, Spain had far less possession than they were used to under World Cup caretaker coach Fernando Hierro and predecessors Julen Lopetegui and Vicente del Bosque but played with more purpose and were more direct than before.
“Spain came from behind to win against England and did so by showing the same personality as their coach. This was more than a prestigious victory, it was an announcement of what is to come, of new and exciting times,” said newspaper Marca.
“It’s only one game but it is significant. We are looking at a new Spain, a more direct team, just like Luis Enrique outlined when he was chosen as coach. Things are looking good.”
The former Barcelona coach had already ruffled feathers by dropping mainstays Jordi Alba and Koke from his squad and then picked a new-look line-up containing only five players who had started the World Cup last-16 defeat to Russia on penalties.
Midfielder Saul Niguez made the biggest impact of the new additions to the team throughout the game, giving them a thrust and directness which was lacking in Russia, where they dominated possession but lacked spark and ideas, and also providing Spain’s equaliser after Marcus Rashford had put England ahead.
Saul’s lively performance had the Spanish media asking why he did not play a single minute at the World Cup despite being part of the squad, while forward Rodrigo, scorer of the winning goal, also gave the team a more direct feel. Spain had 54.7 per cent of possession against England, a marked contrast to playing more than 1,000 passes against Russia, but they compensated by shutting down their opponents with remarkable efficiency thanks to an intense pressing game, and maintained 85 per cent accuracy when they did have the ball.
“That’s what I want, to reduce the space and press a lot and against a team with three defenders it was very difficult,” Luis Enrique said.