Marc Bartra: Spain play like Luis Enrique’s Barcelona

Marc Bartra says he is enjoying working with Luis Enrique again as the Spain boss is ‘keeping in line with his Barcelona concepts’.

Bartra failed to establish himself under Luis Enrique at Barca and was sold to Borussia Dortmund in the summer of 2016.

However, the defender has bounced back at Real Betis and made it clear he had only words of praise for the Asturian.

“It’s true that Pique is no longer here, but the competition is high,” he said at a Press conference for Spain’s Nations League encounter with England on Monday.

“I encountered Pique at his best with Barca and the national team, and it wasn’t easy for me.

“I’m here for what Luis Enrique needs and I’ll work hard to play and stay in the squad. The truth is that Spain are hungry and ambitious.

“The Coach wants us to be compact with and without the ball. The group are magnificent, not only on a sporting level but also in human terms.

“Off the field things are going very well, and that is translated on it. It’ll be special for me to play at the Villamarin because I’m a ‘betico’ and there’s a lot of feeling for the national team in Seville.

“I’m proud to be a player for Betis and the national team, as well as proud of being able to play at Benito Villamarin.

“I met Luis Enrique when I was 17 and he was in charge of Barca B. On a tactical level, he tries to dominate all aspects of the game.

“He’s keeping in line with the concepts with which we won so many trophies at Barca. We’d play every three days, although here it’s less intense and less continuous.

“I changed country and League for national team. It was one of the biggest reasons but under [Quique] Setien, a Coach who gives you confidence and has a philosophy of keeping the ball, you feel supported. I feel like I’ve matured and I feel I can stay here.

“I’ve been programmed to play in a high line and with the quality Spain have, if we work well defensively then we’ll win lots.

“Our rivals will also know that against Spain, they’ll suffer both with and without the ball. Spain can do very good things.

“The match against England is one of the most attractive on the international scene. We watched Croatia-England and it’s very hard to win matches like these.”

Tags England Luis Enrique Marc Bartra Spain UEFA Nations League
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