LWhat began as a happy story in the match against Costa Rica, ended up turning into a nightmare in the match against Morocco. That afternoon at the Ciudad de la Educación stadium, Luis Enrique’s stage had come to an end. Six months later, some of the most important footballers of that stage are not going through their best moment. And several watch as the National Team train escapes forever.
Luis Enrique’s list for Qatar 2022.
The blaugrana clan: Eric Garcia, Jordi Alba, Ferrn Torres…
Their situations are completely opposite due to a fundamental factor: age. As Jordi Alba winds down the final stretch of his career, Ferrn Torres and Eric Garcia, with the whole race ahead of them, are eagerly awaiting an opportunity in Xavi’s rotation. For the moment, that occasion does not arrive. In the last call of the Selection none was part of the list.
The Catalan center-back has played 19 league games and has only started 13 timesspecifically, He has not played as a starter since April 10 against Girona. In the Champions League their numbers are reduced to four games and two starts with four goals conceded. Xavi, in important games, has preferred to reconvert Marcos Alonso from left back to center back.
Jordi Alba has seen how a bullet has passed him in the option of the left side. Bucket’s progression is almost as fast as his legs. Since the end of the World Cup, Jordi Alba has played 13 games, with 8 starts, with the match against Manchester United as the only major stumbling block.
The owner of the right wing of the Selection was Ferrón. The Valencian player has always had a good relationship with goals when he wore the La Roja shirt… At Barcelona this season he has only scored four goals in the league and three in the Champions League.
Outside our borders: Laporte, Azpilicueta and Carlos Soler
Indisputable headlines for Luis Enrique who are not going through their best moment in the Premier League. Laporte has lost his place at the back citizen. Guardiola’s new experiment with Stones, Ruben Dias and Ak has left the Spanish international without a place. Laporte has only played 8 games in the Premier League. In the World Cup in Qatar he played half with the National Team shirt in just two weeks.
The case of Azpilicueta is different. Chelsea, in a maelstrom of transfers and millions of euros invested, has forgotten its captain. The most versatile footballer in the squad blue He has run out of place in eleven. Reece James has taken over the position of right back and the agglomeration of centrals does not allow him to occupy the center of the rear. 20 games played and 12 titles in 33 Premier League days.
Carlos Soler decided to leave Mestalla for the Parque de los Príncipes. Although opportunities were few at the start of the season, Luis Enrique preferred the option of the Valencian over others such as Mikel Merino or Sergio Canales, who are more assiduous in playing matches. Soler has distributed three goals and two assists in his 14 starts with the PSG shirt in Ligue 1.
Special cases: Ansu Fati and Unai Simn
The heir to Leo Messi’s 10 is not having his best season at Barcelona. Ansu Fati entered Luis Enrique’s squad as a surprise, although his football was the most different of the 25. Finally, His contribution in Qatar was dispatched with 40 minutes played.
The footballer who has played 30 games this season, but has only started 11 times. He has scored four goals and three assists. Numbers that have not served to receive the call of the new selector of the Selection, Luis de la Fuente. The unknown with Ansu lies in whether to recover his best level, since he would be one of the most differential players of the National Team. That was one of the reasons for calling him to Qatar and for this reason, Ansu continues to be a special case to analyze.
On the other hand, Unai Simn continues to have options to continue his adventure in the National Team. But his role in Athletic, after the substitution against Mallorca and above all, in the National Team, where Luis de la Fuente prefers Kepa as the starting goalkeeper, has undergone a change. Luis Enrique decided to stop summoning De Gea and Kepa to trust the Vitoria goalkeeper. Since the World Cup in Qatar, Unai Simn is no longer a fixture under the three sticks of La Roja.
Differentials… from the bench: Morata and Asensio
They are not permanent starters for Real Madrid and Atlético, but their moment of form has reached its best level when the season begins to close the curtain. Marco Asensio has become an essential player from the bench. Accepting his new role for Ancelotti, the Mallorcan has taken all the football and goals out of him in this season finale. 12 goals and 7 assists, with both including Chelsea in the Champions League quarter-finals.
The arrival of Memphis, the departure of Joao and Cholo’s change of scheme have meant more competition for Morata, who has continued to score goals no matter what the circumstances. The 7 of La Roja is not fixed in Simeone’s plans, but he contributes goals every time he steps on the pitch. This season there are 12 goals in 32 games disputed, being the second highest national scorer tied with Iago Aspas and surpassed by Joselu, with 14 goals.
