The Spanish coach and former footballer Abelardo Fernandez, 54 times international, who played two World Cups and two European Cups, said to EFE what Luis Enrique Martinez -Like him, I gold in the Barcelona'92 Olympic Games- “he is, today, the best coach that” Spain can “have” and that it is “in the 'top 5' worldwide.”
Abelardo and Luis Enrique (both from 1970) not only were they born in the same city -Gijón-, but they are from the same neighborhood -Pumarín-. They went to the same school, Elisburu; and they coincided, as children, in Xeitosa, before doing so in the lower categories of Real Sporting de Gijón, in the first team of the capital of the Costa Verde, in FC Barcelona and in the Spanish team.
“I believe that, today, Luis Enrique is the best coach we can have. Without a doubt. He is a coach who is in the 'top 5' worldwide,” Abelardo told Efe, who in the honor division of the Spanish soccer led Sporting, Alavés and Espanyol; and that he is one of those who best knows the current coach of the Spanish team.
“He is a coach whose teams are happy to see them play, who handles all situations, in attack and defense. He is a coach whose teams want the ball, as long as they press like no one when the ball is lost,” he explained.
“His players always play very orderly, both in attack and defense. In addition, Luis Enrique He creates a very good atmosphere in the groups he leads. I think he is the best coach we can have. And I think we are in the best hands, “Abelardo said, in an interview with the EFE Agency that took place in Gijón; who played the United States '94 and France '98 World Cups; and the England'96 and England European Championships. Belgium and the Netherlands 2000.
“Afterwards, football is a game. But I think we are going to have a great Eurocup“, said the Asturian coach, who as a footballer defended the shirt of the senior team on 54 occasions, and who does not believe that pressure could affect his countryman at all.
As a player, Luis Enrique He was international 62 times, played three World Cups (those of the United States and France; and that of Korea and Japan 2002) and one European Championship (that of England). And as a coach, before being a national coach, he managed, among others, Celta de Vigo, Italian Roma and Barcelona.
“I think he lived with much more pressure when he was coach of the Barcelona than now in the selection. Now, the press conferences are usually held every so often. At Barça he had them every two days, practically; and he did great. He achieved many successes there, subjected to that pressure, “Abelardo commented about Luis Enrique, the only Spanish coach, along with Pep Guardiola, who has won a 'triplet': League, Cup and Champions League, in the same season.
“For me, in those press conferences he was fantastic; he was a 'crack'; and, in comparison, I think that now those of the national team are child's play,” said the Asturian coach who led the last ascent of the Real Sporting de Gijón to the Spanish First Division, during the 2014-15 season.
Abelardo does believe, on the other hand, that Luis Enrique is willing to take it on himself in exchange for taking that pressure off his players.
“Yes, that's right. The other day he said a phrase that is very good: that his whistles even 'put' him on, but what he doesn't like at all is that his players whistle,” he said.
“He was already that footballer; he knew perfectly well withstanding the pressure. His performance was always high; and the environment did not affect him at all,” he told Efe. 'Pitu' Abelardo, which admitted that, with so many venues and being played in the framework of the covid-19 pandemic, this Euro Cup “is a bit special.”
“It is, because there is not all the public that we would like in the stadiums; and because there are some teams with positives, such as the Spanish or the Swedish. But with the incentive, always, of living a madness that is football in a European Championship. A competition that attracts me a lot, like the World Cup. “
“A Euro and a World Cup they are the best for soccer. And I am confident and hopeful that Spain can play a great role, “said Abelardo in reference to the Spanish team, which will face Sweden, against which it will debut next Monday, Poland -the Saturday June 19 – and to Slovakia – Wednesday 23 -.
“Spain has tough rivals, who may not have much renown, but they are rivals that can cause problems. But I like the Spanish team a lot. The players that Luis (Enrique) has are, many of them, very hungry players; the majority of them are young people with a lot of desire to succeed, “Abelardo told Efe.