Returning Spain boss Luis Enrique claimed that it was his decision to sack number two Robert Moreno from the national team set-up, and he accused his former assistant of being ‘disloyal’.
Moreno took charge of the Spanish national side when Enrique stepped down due to personal reasons, and the former assistant was handed a contract until the end of the Euro 2020 campaign – with the caveat that Enrique could return at any point, if he felt ready to do so.
Moreno was expected to slot back into his number two role upon Enrique’s re-appointment, but he was surprisingly sacked from all national duties, and the ex-Barcelona
“I try to put myself in his position, I understand it; I understand that he worked hard to be there, to have that opportunity, and that he is ambitious, but for me it was disloyal, and I would never do that.”
Enrique explained that he broke the news to his former partner that he would not be involved in his backroom staff upon his return, due to his ‘over-ambition’.
“I do not want anyone with that personality on my staff. Ambition is a virtue but over-ambition is not: it is a great defect. That is why I took the decision I took. I told him that day that I didn’t ever see him as a No. 2 on my staff. I told him I felt like going back to work, but not yet when.
“The only person responsible for the fact that Robert Moreno is not here, it’s me. It’s not the [Spanish football federation] president [Luis] Rubiales or [its sporting director José] Molina, nor the federation.”
Enrique then defended his actions, suggesting that Moreno had acted inappropriately, and the former Roma manager claimed that he is ‘not the bad guy’ of the situation.
“Professionally, I have nothing to criticise Robert Moreno for, he is very prepared,” Enrique added. “On the other hand, I had no doubts about him until his words said one thing and his actions said another. I am not the good guy in the movie, but I’m not the bad guy either.”
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