Spain eventually came away with the three points against Georgia in Tbilisi on Sunday, but coach Luis Enrique wasn’t best pleased with the performance.
La Roja were 1-0 down at half time, and needed Ferran Torres and Dani Olmo, in injury time, to rescue the game.
“I have no doubts. The national team is [made up of] the players who have come here and ten more players who can get here. There is not much else,” he said after the game.
“I am very worried about the Kosovo game. If we lack football, precision, finesse or freshness, we will play with all that. Heart, head or whatever, but Spain have to be at the next World Cup and we are not contemplating not being there.
“And we already see that the opponents do not give anything away easily. We are suffering more with these teams than with Switzerland, who were quarter-finalists at the World Cup or Germany or Ukraine. I’m more than worried about this next game.”
Luis Enrique believes the team started slow but capitalised on the opponents’ tiredness as the game grew.
“In the first half there was a lack of courage. In the second half, as a result of fatigue, we generated more chances,” he said.
“In the end, the goal from Dani Olmo arrived, which was great for us.
“Against Kosovo I imagine a match of a similar nature.”
The coach then praised teenager Pedri who played the entire match.
“Pedri, in the first half, was pretty much like the whole team and, in the second, he showed the kind of player that he is and the qualities that he has,” he said.
“He was very good with Jordi Alba, with whom he has a good understanding,” he added.
Sergio Ramos didn’t feature, and Luis Enrique clarified that it was a decision he took as the boss and sticks by it despite the inevitable questions that will be aimed his way.
“Sergio is in perfect condition and [his absence] was a technical decision,” Luis Enrique explained.
“I know that whatever I do is going to generate controversy, [whether Ramos played] five [minutes], ninety minutes or none.
“I’m used to it now, nothing surprises me. I’m ready for the debate,” he said.
