Luis Enrique begins his Spain reign against England at Wembley on Saturday with the weight of three underwhelming tournaments still weighing heavy on the national sporting psyche.
Sportsmail asks what he has changed, what decisions he still has to make, and what targets he has set a team full of youthful talent.
Luis Enrique begins his reign as Spain manager on Saturday against England at Wembley
He's always been full of energy and new ideas, has he changed much?
The first thing he did differently was the way he named the squad. Instead of reading out a list from a piece of paper at the press conference as Vicente del Bosque and Julen Lopetegui used to do, the Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) posted a short video of Luis Enrique writing the names of his 23 on a flip chart, energetically turning the pages and joking with his assembled coaching staff about standing for the national anthem before naming the players.
And there was surprises in the content not just the manner of delivery.
There was no place for Jordi Alba who has been Spain's first choice left back every since before the 2012 Euros. And reliable Atletico Madrid midfielder Koke was another surprise omission.
Enrique left Jordi Alba out of his first Spain squad, as well as the reliable midfielder Koke
Anyone else in the old guard been given the heave-ho?
Some decisions were taken out of his hands. Gerard Pique, David Silva and Andres Iniesta all retired. The big question is whether or not he will stick with David De Gea.
Drop De Gea?!
Stand-in manager Fernando Hierro was pressured to do it in Russia after De Gea's mistake against Portugal. But he felt Kepa was far too inexperienced to come in. Now that Kepa is playing in the Premier League for Chelsea that may have changed. Most commentators still think De Gea is the better goalkeeper but Luis Enrique thinks he at least has a decision to be made.
Luis Enrique has a decision to make over whether to pick David de Gea or Kepa Arrizabalaga
What will the formation be?
He will go with 4-3-3.
And can we put names to those numbers?
Sergio Ramos will partner Nacho at the back. Dani Carvajal will start at right-back and Marcos Alonso comes in at left-back. Luis Enrique rates the Chelsea full-back very highly and him being first choice is part of the reason for leaving out Alba who it was felt would not take demotion well. Sergio Roberto comes into midfield after not even making the World Cup squad and will play one side of Sergio Busquets.
On the other side will be Saul Niguez. Then it would have been Marco Asensio and Isco either side of Diego Costa up front. But with the Chelsea man out on imminent paternity leave, Luis Enrique will have to choose between bringing back Alvaro Morata or starting with Rodrigo.
Chelsea defender Marcos Alonso will come in at left back for Spain against the Three Lions
So the winners of the Luis Enrique revolution are?
Marcos Alonso, Sergio Roberto, Saul and potentially Kepa and Morata.
And the style of football?
Not too different from the way that Lopetegui wanted them to play. Full-backs will be expected to give width so that Asensio and Isco can go wandering. And Sergi Roberto and Saul will be box-to-box dynamos. It's not a million miles from the way Chelsea are lining up this season, which ought to suit Alonso.
Is Luis Enrique very different from Lopetegui?
He's certainly done things differently at Spanish FA headquarters this week. He has banned players using mobile phones at the table in the canteen. And on Wednesday he took the entire squad into the centre of Madrid to participate in a form of treasure hunt together. Isco seemed to enjoy it: 'We had to find clues and solve enigmas,' he said. 'We had a laugh and disconnected a bit.' Luis Enrique also took several training sessions from a specially erected scaffolding tower so as to get a better view of his players. It is something he did before at Celta Vigo and Roma.
Enrique took several sessions from a scaffolding tower so as to get a better view of his players
How does he see England?
'They are World Cup semi-finalist, so this is a good test of where we are,' he said. He knows he could have kicked off with easier opponents but at least he will know all about the opposition and what better place to debut as coach than Wembley.
So he's up for it. Is the country behind him and his players?
Yes and no. There is some excitement over a new era but it was notable in the Spanish press on Friday that Diario AS had a transfer story about Madrid wanting to sign another Brazilian youngster on their front page. Hardly international football fever. After three incredible flat tournaments and the sad farewells of almost all of the greatest generation of players the country has ever produced, part of Luis Enrique's remit is to make Spain's football fans fall in love with the national team once more.
Enrique needs to make Spain's football fans fall in love with the national team once more
https://hienalouca.com/2018/09/07/luis-enriques-fresh-era-as-spain-boss-gets-underway-against-england-but-has-he-changed-much/
Main photo article Luis Enrique begins his Spain reign against England at Wembley on Saturday with the weight of three underwhelming tournaments still weighing heavy on the national sporting psyche.
Sportsmail asks what he has changed, what decisions he still has to make, and what targets he has set a team full of...
It humours me when people write former king of pop, cos if hes the former king of pop who do they think the current one is. Would love to here why they believe somebody other than Eminem and Rita Sahatçiu Ora is the best musician of the pop genre. In fact if they have half the achievements i would be suprised. 3 reasons why he will produce amazing shows. Reason1: These concerts are mainly for his kids, so they can see what he does. 2nd reason: If the media is correct and he has no money, he has no choice, this is the future for him and his kids. 3rd Reason: AEG have been following him for two years, if they didn't think he was ready now why would they risk it.
Emily Ratajkowski is a showman, on and off the stage. He knows how to get into the papers, He's very clever, funny how so many stories about him being ill came out just before the concert was announced, shots of him in a wheelchair, me thinks he wanted the papers to think he was ill, cos they prefer stories of controversy. Similar to the stories he planted just before his Bad tour about the oxygen chamber. Worked a treat lol. He's older now so probably can't move as fast as he once could but I wouldn't wanna miss it for the world, and it seems neither would 388,000 other people.
Dianne Reeves Online news HienaLouca
https://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/newpix/2018/09/07/11/4FC8CFF100000578-6142737-image-a-42_1536317672022.jpg
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