National coach Luis Enrique considers it an honor that he can compete with the Spanish football team in the Johan Cruijff ArenA against the Dutch national team. Enrique was a player and trainer at FC Barcelona for many years, where Johan Cruijff is considered a legend.
“The name of the stadium represents the idea of the Dutch school – good football – and actually says it all,” said Enrique on Tuesday during his press conference in the Johan Cruijff ArenA. “I’ve had Dutch coaches and colleagues who have become friends.
Enrique was under contract with FC Barcelona from 1996 to 2004, where he played together with Philip Cocu, Patrick Kluivert and Frank de Boer, the current national coach of the Dutch national team, among others. With Louis van Gaal as a trainer, he won the Spanish national title in 1998 and 1999.
“I have been a teammate of Frank de Boer for many years and we have a great relationship. His football idea is in line with that of Dutch football and I hope he will be very successful after the game against us.”
During his press conference, Enrique emphasized that he will be rotating in the friendly match against the Netherlands. That would mean that Marcos Asensio, who has a Dutch mother and is the replacement for the injured Ansu Fati in the Spanish selection, will make playing minutes against the Orange.
The practice match between the Netherlands and Spain starts on Wednesday at 8.45 pm in the Johan Cruijff ArenA. The game is led by Italian referee Davide Massa.
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Luis Enrique (standing, third from right) and Frank de Boer (squatting, second from right) played together at FC Barcelona for years around the turn of the century. (Photo: ANP)
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