Luis Enrique oblivious to team’s peril during Spain’s ‘collapse’ against Japan

02-Dec-2022 11:52:52 | The Guardian

La Roja briefly faced World Cup elimination but coach claims he was entirely focused on their struggles at Khalifa Stadium

Luis Enrique was the last to know, or so he claimed. It was after midnight before he found out just how close he and his team had come to disaster at Khalifa International Stadium in Doha, the realisation caught on cameras. How had he felt during those three minutes when Spain were out of the World Cup, he was asked in the post-match press conference after his team’s 2-1 defeat by Japan. What was going through his mind? Instead of an answer, there was an “eh?!” and another question. “Three minutes out, why?!” he replied.

A conversation followed in which only Luis Enrique’s half could be heard properly, the journalist’s microphone having been handed back. Usefully, it served as proof, evidence of his approach, the single-mindedness that sets him apart. That at least was the way he was playing it. “You didn’t know?” he was asked. “No,” the coach said. “I’m not focused on the other game; I’m only concentrating on mine …