MADRID, 27 Mar. (EUROPA PRESS) –
The midfielder of the Spanish team Rodri Hernández assured this Monday that the changes made by Luis de la Fuente against Norway were key and that “it is good to have that range of players with different characteristics”, unlike “perhaps” in the previous stage with Luis Enrique Martínez where they had many “of the same profile”, while he warned that after inheriting the position of Sergio Busquets he wants to make his “path and improve every day”.
“Perhaps it is true that before we had many players with the same profile and perhaps we needed other alternatives and players with other characteristics, now for example we have four center forwards and that allows you to shoot more crosses or be more upright, but that will always depend on the profile of the players. that they are and the coach will connect them to play in the best way,” Rodri said at a press conference prior to the duel against Scotland.
The Manchester City player recalled that they have been with Luis de la Fuente for “a few days” and that “each game is different.” “Against Norway we played with Dani (Olmo) and Gavi, who are not pure wingers and when Yeremi (Pino) and Mikel (Oyarzabal) came out they contributed other kinds of things. It’s good to have that range of players with different characteristics”, he admitted.
Regarding his role in the team after the departure of Sergio Busquets, the man from Madrid pointed out that trying to “assume it as naturally as possible”. “I’ve been in the national team for a few years now, with experiences already lived and what I want is to make my way, to improve every day. I know how difficult it is to come and I know what to do to return, which is to give my best version and lead this team,” he added.
“My intention is to grow and try to infect the rest of the boys who are living their first experiences in the national team and that they learn,” stressed the midfielder, who considered that Martín Zubimendi, the other ‘5’ on the list, has a “high level “. “I’ve known Luis de la Fuente for a long time and I know what he wants from a pivot, who is a solvent player, who loses few balls, reliable defensively, capable of filtering balls and with a role of ordering the rest. He also wants them to let’s have more arrivals when the teams close in to take advantage of the good shot we have”, he explained about the needs of his position.
Rodri knows that “new ideas have to be incorporated” and that in his position he was “maturing more” in the opening game against Norway, putting aside the possibility of playing center-back as happened in the World Cup in Qatar with Luis Enrique. “The coach spoke clearly and my position is clear and the one in which I perform at the highest level is that of a pivot. In Qatar it was a forced learning process and I think I had a good performance, I showed myself that I can be versatile,” he said.
Last Saturday, the entry of Dani Ceballos improved the team. “We have many different profiles and Dani is a player with more possession of the ball, who occupies areas to take from one side to another and who is good in possession, and that gave us more calm and control in the last third, while Iago Aspas is more forward and more upright. The changes were very important to end a very difficult match against a great rival like Norway”, he stressed.
The international midfielder recalled that Scotland is “a very physical team, which defends in a low block and with a line of five”. “They have quality players, in transition and they are experts from set pieces, something that we defended very well the other day,” he pointed out.
The City player believes that his rival has “very good players” and that they are “very competitive”. “When you think of Scotland, you think of set pieces, long balls, or second plays. They have a lot of physicality, with ‘box to box’ players (from box to box) and with the experience of playing big games in the Premier, but we have to focus on ourselves, it will be an important and very tough game. It is one of the toughest games in the group and we have to do a very complete one if we want to get the three points”, he sentenced.