Spain coach tight-lipped over keeper choice for Germany showdown
RESENDING WITH COMPLETE SCRIPT
SHOWS: SEVILLE, SPAIN (NOVEMBER 16, 2020) (SPANISH SOCCER FEDERATION HANDOUT - ACCESS ALL)
1. VARIOUS OF SPAIN TEAM TRAINING SESSION (MUTE)
2. SPAIN CAPTAIN SERGIO RAMOS
3. PLAYERS GATHERED ON TRAINING PITCH
4. PLAYERS DURING TRANING SESSION
5. RAMOS AND SPAIN COACH LUIS ENRIQUE
6. TRAINING SESSION IN PROGRESS
7. ENRIQUE AT NEWS CONFERENCE
8. (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) SPAIN HEAD COACH, LUIS ENRIQUE, ON GOALKEEPING OPTIONS, SAYING:
"I have been very clear on the matter from the beginning. I have three or four goalkeepers and they all have the level to be number one. What will happen in the future? I don't know, it will depend from their performance and if they will execute what we ask of them. Depending on that, I cannot be closed to having one goalkeeper, I would like to have multiple options, and depending on their performance, we will choose the best option."
9. NEWS CONFERENCE IN PROGRESS
10. (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) SPAIN HEAD COACH, LUIS ENRIQUE, ON THE GOALKEEPERS, SAYING:
"Unai (Simon) has a very high level and so do Kepa (Arrizabalaga) and David de Gea. I think they all can improve in certain areas, we just have to pick one of them."
11. NEWS CONFERENCE IN PROGRESS
12. (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) SPAIN HEAD COACH, LUIS ENRIQUE, SAYING
"We are facing one of the strongest teams in Europe and in the world, so it's obvious that it won't be simple. They are ahead of us in the standings, and we need to win."
13. NEWS CONFERENCE IN PROGRESS
14. (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) SPAIN HEAD COACH, LUIS ENRIQUE, SAYING
"I fully trust that the team and the players are aware of who we are playing, what we want and then it is about playing on the pitch, which is the hardest, especially in this case, where the rival is of an extremely high level."
15. TRAINING SESSION IN PROGRESS
STORY: Spain coach Luis Enrique chose not to reveal who would be his goalkeeper in Tuesday's (November 17) UEFA Nations League decider against Germany, saying all three of his keepers had what it takes to help his team over the line.
Spain must beat Germany in order to win League A4 and progress to next year's final four tournament.
But while their opponents can count on the assured presence of captain Manuel Neuer, uncertainty surrounds Spain's goalkeeping situation.
With Kepa Arrizabalaga no longer getting regular action for Chelsea and David de Gea underperforming for Manchester United and Spain for some time, the relatively inexperienced Unai Simon of Athletic Bilbao has played the last two internationals.
Simon looked uncomfortable on the ball in last week's 1-1 draw against the Netherlands, while he made a blunder in Saturday's 1-1 draw with Switzerland and was only spared embarrassment by Sergio Ramos making a goalline clearance.
"Unai has a very high level and so do Kepa and David de Gea, and we just have to pick one of them," added the coach.
In his first two seasons as Barcelona coach, Luis Enrique favoured Claudio Bravo in La Liga matches and Marc-Andre ter Stegen in the Copa del Rey and Champions League.
He reiterated he likes to keep goalkeepers on their toes, adding that he did not know who would be his number one for next year's rescheduled European Championships.
"I've always felt that I had three or four goalkeepers who had what it takes to be number one. I don't know what will happen in the future, it will depend on how they perform. But I cannot narrow my options and only have one goalkeeper," he said.
(Production: May Ponzo)
