Spain manager Luis Enrique left baffled by journalist’s question after not

On Nov 15, 2020

‘What sending off?’ Spain manager Luis Enrique left baffled by journalist’s question after not noticing Nico Elvedi red card in UEFA Nations League draw with Switzerland

Spain required a late equaliser to earn Nations League draw with Switzerland
Their cause was helped by sending off of Nico Elvedi 11 minutes from the end
But this crucial moment apparently escaped the attention of coach Luis Enrique
He asked ‘what sending off?’ when questioned by a journalist after the game
Spain must beat Germany in Sevilla on Tuesday night to qualify for the finals

Published: 03:51 EST, 15 November 2020 | Updated: 04:10 EST, 15 November 2020

Spain manager Luis Enrique was apparently unaware his team had played against 10 men for the final 15 minutes of their UEFA Nations League draw against Switzerland.

His team required an 89th-minute equaliser from Gerard Moreno to snatch a draw in Basel after Sergio Ramos had missed two penalties.

Their cause was helped when Switzerland defender Nico Elvedi was shown a second yellow card for fouling Alvaro Morata in the box – conceding the second penalty Ramos squandered – with 11 minutes left.

Spain coach Luis Enrique was left baffled after not noticing a Switzerland sending off

Nico Elvedi was shown a second yellow card with 11 minutes of the Nations League game left

Elvedi trudges from the field in Basel after earning a second yellow for fouling Alvaro Morata

But his dismissal seemed to evade the attention of Luis Enrique, who looked non-plussed when a Marca journalist asked him about his team’s numerical advantage during the post-match press conference.

Turning to a staff member sat by his side, Luis Enrique asked ‘what sending off?’ before responding to the question with a look of surprise on his face.

The late goal by Villarreal forward Moreno ultimately spared Spain a second consecutive defeat in Nations League Group A4 and kept them in contention to qualify for the tournament finals when they host leaders Germany in Sevilla on Tuesday night.

It came after Real Madrid defender Ramos saw his unblemished record of 25 consecutive scored penalties ended.

Gerard Moreno saved the day with a late goal in what was a frustrating night for the Spaniards

Remo Freuler celebrates after scoring the goal which handed Switzerland a first-half lead

The result means Spain need to beat Germany in order to top Group A4 and reach the finals

His first was drilled low towards the bottom corner and his second was an attempted Panenka, but both were kept out by Swiss keeper Yann Sommer.

Spain lacked a cutting edge in attack, with Switzerland scoring through Atalanta midfielder Remo Freuler after 26 minutes, after Luis Enrique started without a recognised No 9 up front.

‘Soccer can be like this,’ he said. ‘It’s a wonderful game but sometimes it does not do justice. A lot of things happened and we tried to play our style.

‘We felt that a No 9 was not going to be…