Spain manager Luis Enrique has said he is happy with Spain’s performances despite the team failing to reach the Nations League Finals. Enrique succeeded his former Real Madrid and Spain teammate Fernando Hierro as Spain’s manager following Spain’s disappointing World Cup exit in the round of 16 at Russia.
Spain won their first three matches under Enrique that included winning their first two Nations League matches against England and Croatia. Spain thrashed World Cup runners-up Croatia 6-0 while drubbing Wales 4-1. However, three wins were followed by successive Nations League defeats to England and Croatia. Those two are the only matches that Spain have lost this year.
Spain ended 2018 by beating Bosnia and Herzegovina 1-0, thus ending Bosnia’s 9-match unbeaten run.
However, they were unable to qualify for the Nations League Finals because England defeated Croatia 2-1 and qualified instead.
Enrique says that there plenty of positives in his first 6 matches as Spain manager. The former Barcelona manager said, “Obviously we would have liked to have been in the final four, it seemed that we had it on track after the first two games but it is one of the most difficult groups. We lost our chance in Seville [against England] and in Zagreb.
I make a positive assessment of the six matches that we have had, I already knew that the players could not give me everything I have asked for but I am delighted with the attitude of them all. I am happy and satisfied.”
Spain end 2018 with 7 wins, 5 draws and 2 losses.
