
<p>Spain’s progression to the knockout stage of the 2022 World Cup is almost secure, despite Sunday’s draw with Germany, but is Luis Enrique the best coach in the world?</p>



<p>This may seem like a rather bizarre question. However, these were the exact words used by the Spanish coach to describe himself. Luis Enrique took the chance to advertise his own credentials prior to the Germany clash.</p>



<p>Yet, when you look at his record with both Barcelona and the national team, does he have a point?</p>



<h2>Luis Enrique makes case as the best coach in the world</h2>



<p>In order to fully judge Luis Enrique as a coach you have to look at his club career.</p>



<p>At Barcelona, he arrived at a club that was struggling for an identity. The days of Pep Guardiola’s style faded, and the game was changing to favor a more physical approach.</p>



<p>He brought a vertical 4-3-3 to the Camp Nou, fully utilizing the attacking talents of Luis Suarez and Neymar. They dovetailed with Lionel Messi superbly. Luis Enrique’s team won the Champions League in his first year in charge.</p>



<p>At international level, the former Barcelona midfielder achieved a similar transitional success. La Roja were at a low point when he arrived, having failed at tournaments with their golden generation virtually broken up. The coach made key decisions. Dropping David de Gea to focus on a keeper more adept with his feet, as well as moving the team to a vertical approach with a target man in Alvaro Morata.</p>



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<div class="ck-youtube"><iframe loading="lazy" title="Spain vs. Germany Highlights | 2022 FIFA World Cup" width="500" height="281" src="https:\/\/www.youtube.com/embed/GaiWyMP4N24?start=160&amp;feature=oembed" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen=""></iframe></div>
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<p>He has also given more opportunities to domestic youngsters, looking to do away with ageing veterans playing away from LaLiga.</p>



<p>Tactically, there are few better minds than Luis Enrique. His teams are attractive to watch. However, they do not often fall short against equal opponents.</p>



<p>However, where the Asturian coach struggles is with his man-management. It doesn’t crop up as much as Spain’s coach due to the sheer lack of time he spends with his squad. That being said, at Barcelona, he rubbed people the wrong way.</p>



<p>By the end of his tenure the Camp Nou was fraught with tension and fans were ready for Luis Enrique to go.</p>



<h5>Who is he battling against?</h5>



<p>At the moment there are a handful of standout coaches in world soccer. It would be unfair to include club coaches in this comparison, because the job is so different.</p>



<p>Pep Guardiola is the best club coach in the world, albeit he has incredibly favorable conditions in which to work. International coaches are the yardstick when assessing the Spaniard.</p>



<p>Tite, Didier Deschamps and Gareth Southgate are the longer serving members of the fraternity. Meanwhile, Hansi Flick and Louis van Gaal boast great reputations.</p>



<p>Luis Enrique isn’t working with as talented a group as Deschamps and Tite have with <a href="https:\/\/worldsoccertalk.com/nations/france-national-team-tv-schedule/">France</a> and <a href="https:\/\/worldsoccertalk.com/nations/brazil-national-team-tv-schedule/">Brazil</a>, respectively. Yet, he is getting similarly impressive performances from his team.</p>



<p>Gareth Southgate reached a World Cup semi-final and a <a href="https:\/\/www.englandfootball.com/england/mens-senior-team/fixtures-results/2021/20210711-italy-1-1-england-uefa-euro-2020-final-match-report" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">European final</a>, but his soccer isn’t as attractive as the Spanish coach’s.</p>



<p>Hansi Flick’s team play excellent, but results as of late place him way below Luis Enrique.</p>



<p>“How can I doubt myself? I am the best coach on the face of the earth,” Luis Enrique explained in a press conference.</p>



<p>“If I have to convince my players I have to be convinced myself… there is no better coach than me. I know it’s not true, but I believe it.”</p>



<p>Luis Enrique was using his words as a motivational tool for his players. Deciding on the best coach in the world is a subjective topic, but he certainly qualifies to be in the conversation, especially with La Roja still alive in the <a href="https:\/\/worldsoccertalk.com/category/world-cup-2022/">2022 World Cup</a>.</p>



<p><em>PHOTO: IMAGO / Sports Press Photo</em></p>


Spain are performing well at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, but is Luis Enrique right with his assertion that he is the best coach around?

Luis Enrique case for being the best coach in the world - World Soccer Talk

Luis Enrique case for being the best coach in the world

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<p>Spain head to the <a href="https:\/\/worldsoccertalk.com/category/world-cup-2022/">2022 World Cup</a> in Qatar with a settled squad and coaching setup.</p>



<p>After the <a href="https:\/\/www.reuters.com/article/uk-soccer-spain-luisenrique/former-spain-coach-luis-enriques-daughter-loses-cancer-battle-idUKKCN1VJ2PF" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">catastrophic bereavement</a> process Luis Enrique had to go through in his personal life, the Spanish coach returned to lead La Roja into Euro 2020.</p>



<p>It was a tournament that didn’t start especially well. The former <a href="https:\/\/worldsoccertalk.com/teams/barcelona-tv-schedule/">Barcelona</a> coach had been absent for much of the qualification process. Many were unhappy that he retook control from Robert Moreno.</p>



<p>Draws with Poland and Sweden left Spain needing to defeat Slovakia to make it into the knockout stage. Spain won 5-0. Then, it beat Croatia and Switzerland to reach the semifinal. and then beat Switzerland and Croatia to reach the semi-final.</p>



<p>Eventual winners <a href="https:\/\/worldsoccertalk.com/nations/italy-national-team-tv-schedule/">Italy</a> eliminated Luis Enrique’s side at that point. But, Enrique reestablished his credibility.</p>



<p>Now, he is heading to Qatar with fans and players completely behind him. La Roja recognize their golden generation is gone. Nevertheless, hopes are still high for the World Cup.</p>



<p>Many want to know whether they can win the tournament. Perhaps that goal is too lofty for a young Spanish side.</p>



<h5>Tempering expectations</h5>



<p>Luis Enrique has made bold decisions with his squad selection for the World Cup. There isn’t a space for either David de Gea or Kepa Arrizabalaga.</p>



<p>Such a decision would have been unthinkable when he first took charge. Thiago Alcantara didn’t make the cut whilst Gavi and Pedri will lead the team in midfield.</p>



<p>When you look at the Spanish squad headed to Qatar you are immediately struck by something. There isn’t a world class player in it. Sergio Busquets would have been, once. Yet, he declined as he aged. There are some truly elite players on this squad. For example, Rodri, Aymeric Laporte and Pedri are world class. But, none are the best of the best.</p>



<figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper">
<div class="ck-twitter"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Spain coach Luis Enrique has launched a Twitch channel for the World Cup 🎙🇪🇸<br><br>He hopes that by talking directly to fans he&apos;ll be able to provide them with insights previously only offered to media, along with behind the scenes updates about the team and unique analysis of games. <a href="https:\/\/t.co/ZVr9OzJfSA">pic.twitter.com/ZVr9OzJfSA</a></p>— ESPN FC (@ESPNFC) <a href="https:\/\/twitter.com/ESPNFC/status/1592472481259933697?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 15, 2022</a></blockquote></div><script async="" src="https:\/\/platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
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<p>Spanish fans were able to enjoy living through their glorious period which began in 2008. They had Iker Casillas, Gerard Pique, Xavi, Busquets and Andres Iniesta. At the same time, it would have been completely legitimate to claim Spain had the best goalkeeper, center-half and midfield trio in world soccer all in one single team.</p>



<p>That’s no longer there. It has been more of a return to problems the Spanish faced between 1980 and 2005. They have a lot of brilliant players, but no generationally talented ones.</p>



<p>This has potential to be an issue. However, Luis Enrique has a strong squad who are well drilled in playing together. Euro 2020 showed the work the coach has put in. The style of soccer from the Spanish team was attractive and they could have gone to the final.</p>



<p>Playing in the <a href="https:\/\/worldsoccertalk.com/category/world-cup-2022/">World Cup</a> is much harder. There is more pressure and a wider variety of teams who can challenge you. Spain need to avoid trying to run before they can walk. Aiming for the semi-final would be realistic and a fair target.</p>



<h2>Spain chances of winning World Cup 2022</h2>



<p>Having been drawn in <a href="https:\/\/worldsoccertalk.com/2022/04/04/analysis-of-world-cup-groups/">Group E</a> alongside <a href="https:\/\/worldsoccertalk.com/nations/costa-rica-national-team-tv-schedule/">Costa Rica</a>, <a href="https:\/\/worldsoccertalk.com/nations/japan-national-team-tv-schedule/">Japan</a> and <a href="https:\/\/worldsoccertalk.com/nations/germany-national-team-tv-schedule/">Germany</a>, La Roja are expected to reach the knockout phase. Playing Germany second is a blessing. It allows Luis Enrique’s side to avoid losing first and then having to play catchup for the remainder of the group. No matter where Spain finish in Group E, they will face a difficult match in the <a href="https:\/\/worldsoccertalk.com/2022/04/05/world-cup-bracket-free-download/">round of 16</a>.</p>



<p>Both Croatia and Belgium expect to come through Group F, and will pose a challenge to Spain. Possible meetings with Brazil or Portugal could follow, both of which would be difficult. If you are to talk about individual talent, Spain don’t have enough to win the tournament. If they come up against Kylian Mbappe, Neymar or Lionel Messi their defense will struggle.</p>



<p>Picking a Spain win from matches against any of France, Argentina or Brazil isn’t easy. It’s difficult to see them beating any of those teams. That is, ultimately, where La Roja will fall short at the 2022 World Cup. Only a fortunate draw will allow them to win the World Cup.</p>



<p><em>PHOTO: IMAGO / ZUMA Wire</em></p>



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<h3>Guide to World Cup 2022</h3>
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Here are some resources to help you get the most out of the biggest event in soccer!
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<a href="https:\/\/worldsoccertalk.com/world-cup-tv-schedule/"><strong>TV Schedule:</strong></a> All the info on <a href="https:\/\/worldsoccertalk.com/world-cup-tv-schedule/">where and when to watch</a> every game
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<a href="https:\/\/worldsoccertalk.com/2022/04/04/analysis-of-world-cup-groups/"><strong>The Groups:</strong></a> We <a href="https:\/\/worldsoccertalk.com/2022/04/04/analysis-of-world-cup-groups/">breakdown each group</a> and all the teams
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<a href="https:\/\/worldsoccertalk.com/world-cup-jerseys-for-qatar-2022/"><strong>The Kits:</strong></a> Check out <a href="https:\/\/worldsoccertalk.com/world-cup-jerseys-for-qatar-2022/">what every team will be wearing</a> on the field this fall
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<a href="https:\/\/worldsoccertalk.com/predictor/"><strong>Predictor:</strong></a> Play out every scenario with our <a href="https:\/\/worldsoccertalk.com/predictor/">World Cup Predictor</a>
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<a href="https:\/\/worldsoccertalk.com/2022/04/05/world-cup-bracket-free-download/"><strong>World Cup Bracket:</strong></a> Map out the <a href="https:\/\/worldsoccertalk.com/2022/04/05/world-cup-bracket-free-download/">entire tournament</a>, from the groups to the final
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<a href="https:\/\/worldsoccertalk.com/category/world-cup-2022/"><strong>World Cup Hub:</strong></a> Your one stop for <a href="https:\/\/worldsoccertalk.com/category/world-cup-2022/">everything Qatar 2022</a>
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