Luis Enrique: I don't pretend to please everyone

Ahead of the clash between Spain and the Netherlands, Luis Enrique has answered questions on his team selection, as well as the performance of LaLiga Santander clubs in European competition, yet the former Roma coach has admitted he doesn't pretend to try and please everyone.

Ansu Fati has seen his international career stall as a result of a meniscus injury in his left knee, and thus won't be available for selection by Luis Enrique in this international period, or ones in the near future.

"I don't pretend to try and please everyone," Luis Enrique told the press. "I'm only going to talk about the players that are here.

"I don't look at age, sex, well obviously I look at gender, but Kepa is going through a difficult moment, that's the way it is.

"Making an exception is a wild card, because of what a player contributes. I love Asensio, the facts show the confidence I have in him, I have counted on him 99% of the time, and whilst I respect the opinions and decisions of other people, mine are well thought out."

Real Madrid's Champions League campaign has started poorly, whilst Barcelona's humbling at the hands of Bayern Munich in 2019/20 still lives strong in the memory, yet Luis Enrique doesn't believe that reflects the level of Spanish football.

"I don't get the feeling that we have missed the train in terms of European football," Luis Enrique added.

"I'm not going to talk about club teams or the Champions League. Let's just see what happens in the European Championship next summer."

The Netherlands as a footballing team have been on a rebuilding mission since Louis van Gaal's departure after the 2014 World Cup.

A number of failures followed, but Ronald Koeman's appointment appeared to have steadied the slide and got the team back playing good football and earning positive results.

There is a sense that his departure to the Camp Nou cut that project off at the knees, yet Luis Enrique is still extremely respectful of the challenge his team faces.

"Just because of the name of the stadium, the photos we have seen, this is a great footballing ideology here, attacking," Luis Enrique confirmed.

"I have many Dutch friends, I like this stadium and it brings back good memories. I was a teammate of Frank de Boer for many years, we're good friends.

"We share some good traits and bad traits and his ideas about football are in line with Dutch football."