Luis Enrique was presented as the national coach of Spain on Thursday. The former Barca boss spoke to the media in Madrid.
“I thank the president and the sporting director for their confidence,” said Luis Enrique in an opening speech.
“I know what it means to be a coach and a national team coach, because I’ve had the fortunate of living for many years in this home, a home new and renewed, I’m impressed with what I’ve seen here in the last few days.
“I am very excited to take on this challenge and have a crack at the national team. We have big challenges and huge objectives, let’s go for them.”
Lucho wants to continue the work done by Julen Lopetegui, who was sacked just before the World Cup.
“We have analysed the things that have happened recently and what we want is to reinforce the work of Lopetegui and Hierro,” added Lucho.
The president of the Federation, Luis Rubiales, explained that, after the dismissal of Julen Lopetegui and the resignation of his replacement Fernando Hierro after the team’s exit from the 2018 FIFA World Cup Russia™, they bet everything on Luis Enrique. "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.
“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.”
