Asked what he thought about the idea of Guardiola, who has spoken previously about his international ambitions, sitting in his place in the future, Luis Enrique replied in a typically modest fashion, stating that the Manchester City boss would be the ideal coach for Spain.
Luis Enrique wishes Guardiola was the Spain coach
Spain head coach Luis Enrique has spoken about his first national team squad since Euro 2020 and also mentioned that he’d love to see his former colleague Pep Guardiola in charge of La Roja one day. Asked what he thought about the idea of Guardiola, who has spoken previously about his international ambitions, sitting in his place in the future, Luis Enrique replied in a typically modest fashion, stating that the Manchester City boss would be the ideal coach for Spain. “I’d love that, and I wish Guardiola was the Spain coach. I’d love it; it would be perfect,” said Luis Enrique in his press conference. “What’s more, I’d love to see our national team with his stamp on them. I don’t think Spain could have a better coach.” In September, Luis Enrique also explained some of his decisions behind his 24-man squad for the games against Sweden, Georgia, and Kosovo.
Never afraid to shake things up, shuffle his pack and try new things, Luis Enrique has made seven changes from his Euro 2020 squad in the summer:
Out: Pau Torres, Diego Llorente, Fabian Ruiz, Thiago Alcantara, Pedri, Dani Olmo and Mikel Oyarzabal. In: Inigo Martinez, Raul Albiol, Carlos Soler, Mikel Merino, Pablo Fornals, Brais Mendez and Abel Ruiz. The main reason for this is to rest the players who played at both Euro 2020 and the Olympics (Pedri, Dani Olmo, Mikel Oyarzabal) while also freshening things up and giving a chance to players who have earned it. Only Unai Simon and Eric Garcia have been included in this squad of those who played at both summer tournaments. “The rest given to players is necessary; even the coach gets tired. We’ve evaluated every case individually,” said Luis Enrique. “There are two of the players who competed at both Euro 2020 and the Olympics who are in the squad because they are playing again or are about to be.
“For the others, we decided it was best for them to rest… but all six wanted to come.” Of those to come in, perhaps the most surprising was Braga forward Abel Ruiz. The former Barcelona youth player, who scored 11 goals in 39 games in Portugal last season, has represented Spain at various youth levels and made his debut for the senior squad in June this year when the under-21 team had to step in and play Lithuania. We consider Abel Ruiz to be critical due to the record he has, with the youth teams and his club,” said Luis Enrique. Others among the seven who have come in since the last squad are more familiar faces, such as veteran Raul Albiol and Athletic Club’s Inigo Martinez.