Luis Enrique strikes back on Twitter
Despite his Spain side qualifying for the Nations League Final Four, the Asturian coach has come under criticism from many fans and sectors of the media.
Since taking over as Spain national team head coach in 2019, Luis Enrique has constantly had to handle constant criticism from many quarters. The Asturian has been called out by fans and the media alike for his choice of tactics...too much possession and little end product, or for seeing to have an anti-Real Madrid bias with many not warming to his direct and frank manner of dealing with the media.
The knives were being sharpened after Saturday’s home defeat by Switzerland in Zaragoza which threatened to derail Spain from progressing to the Nations League Final Four next summer.
After the match, the 52-year-old said after the game that their performance was “the worse I can remember since I’ve been coaching this team.”
Braga redemption
Following the Zaragoza defeat to the Swiss, Spain headed to Braga to play group leaders Portugal with a draw enabling Fernando Santos’ men to progress. Once again Spain dominated play, despite failing to create any clear cut chances in a tepid first half performance and just when it seemed that things had drifted away from them, Alvaro Morata pounced in the 88th minute to score the goal that saw ‘La Roja’ top their group and seal a place in the Nations League Final Four.
Despite advancing, certain quarters of the media still found fault with Luis Enrique’s game-plan which prompted the coach to counter attack with a tweet showcasing how Spain are the only major European national side to have made it to the 2020 Nations League finals, ended as runner-up at Euro 2020, topped their group as part of the 2022 World Cup qualifying process and again, advanced to the current Nations League finals. The graphic included a simple but pointed message from the Gijon native....’Just to put things in context’.