- Title: Luis Enrique upbeat about Spain's qualification prospects despite defeat
- Date: 4th September 2021
- Summary: LAS ROZAS, SPAIN (SEPTEMBER 4, 2021) (REUTERS) VARIOUS OF PLAYERS WALKING ON PITCH SPAIN COACH LUIS ENRIQUE ON PITCH WALKING WITH FERRAN TORRES PLAYERS STANDING IN CIRCLE LUIS ENRIQUE JOKING WITH PLAYERS LEFT-BACK JOSE GAYA WALKING PAST TWO ROWS OF HIS TEAMMATES AS THEY PAT HIM ON THE BACK VARIOUS OF PLAYERS WARMING UP VARIOUS OF PLAYERS IN RONDO LUIS ENRIQUE WATCHING SESSION VARIOUS OF PLAYERS IN RONDO LUIS ENRIQUE WATCHING SESSION PLAYERS GATHERED LUIS ENRIQUE KICKING BALL VARIOUS OF PLAYERS TRAINING LUIS ENRIQUE WATCHING SESSION VARIOUS OF PLAYERS TRAINING LUIS ENRIQUE ENTERING NEWS CONFERENCE ROOM LUIS ENRIQUE SEATED (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) SPAIN COACH, LUIS ENRIQUE, SAYING: "As a professional, evidently I look at the positive side and I try to see the glass half full because there are always other points of view." (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) SPAIN COACH, LUIS ENRIQUE, SAYING: "Any assessment can be improved. I repeat, I am not such a fan of these things (assessments). The only thing is that when you ask me questions with a negative component, and sadly most are like that, regardless of whether we are coming from a very positive position I try to counteract that with positive data and that exists. But any statistic provided it can always be improved." NEW CONFERENCE (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) SPAIN COACH, LUIS ENRIQUE, SAYING (ON GIVING A SWEDISH FAN THE MIDDLE FINGER AFTER BEING INSULTED BY THE FAN): "It was an insult (against Luis Enrique), I don't want to enter into details because I am not interested. It's something I would rather ignore and I will. I am used to it (insults), they happen all the time in different places and involve different nationalities." LUIS ENRIQUE LEAVING SPAIN CAPTAIN SERGIO BUSQUETS BUSQUETS SEATED (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) SPAIN COACH, SERGIO BUSQUETS, SAYING: "We cannot fail again, but we are optimistic and we want to win everything until the end when we have a duel against Sweden and they could also lose a point in a complicated match ahead. That is our feeling and what we are thinking about and where we are at." NEWS CONFERENCE IN PROGRESS (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) SPAIN COACH, SERGIO BUSQUETS, SAYING: "Everyone has that in their mind (the achievements of the previous squad), but the team knows that will be difficult to achieve. In the end we have had a European Cup where we were very close to reaching our objective, they know it's football and that these experiences will serve them in the future and everything else will come naturally, there is no need for more pressure than necessary knowing we are in a privileged position where the most is demanded from us. They know that and that's why they are here." BUSQUETS LEAVING
- Embargoed: 18th September 2021 13:29
- Keywords: Georgia Spain World Cup soccer
- Location: LAS ROZAS, SPAIN
- City: LAS ROZAS, SPAIN
- Country: Spain
- Topics: Europe,Soccer,Sport
- Reuters ID: LVA001ETB01TR
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text: Spain coach Luis Enrique said neither he nor his side were down after losing to Sweden on Thursday (September 2) and ceding ground in their 2022 World Cup qualification campaign.
The 2-1 loss to the Swedes in Stockholm was Spain's first in World Cup qualifying for 28 years.
The Euro 2020 semi-finalists sit second in the group with seven points from four games, two behind leaders Sweden who have a game in hand.
With only one automatic spot up for grabs, Spain have it all to do to reel the Swedes back in. But Luis Enrique said they were positive about qualification, be it catching Sweden or via the play-offs.
"As a professional, evidently I look at the positive side and I try to see the glass half full because there are always other points of view," he said responding to criticism.
Captain Sergio Busquets echoed his manager's optimism.
"We cannot fail again, but we are optimistic and we want to win everything until the end when we have a dual against Sweden." he said. "Tthey could also lose a point in a complicated match ahead. That is our feeling and what we are thinking about," Busquets added.
Responding to a journalist after the Saturday (September 4) training session ahead of Spain's match against Georgia on Sunday (September 5), the Spain captain said the young squad was aware they were measured against the achievements of the previous squad which has now mostly retired.
"In the end we have had a European Cup where we were very close to reaching our objective, they know it's football and that these experiences will serve them in the future and everything else will come naturally."
"There is no need for more pressure than necessary knowing we are in a privileged position where the most is demanded from us. They know that and that's why they are here."
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