Krups: I don't know yet, right now my first and final priority lies with this Under-21 side
Gaizka Mendieta: En Gestión
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A good start with good results! You have a very good squad here mate!
Good Luck!
And Also what tactic are you using?
And Also what tactic are you using?
Spain U-21 v San Marino U-21
Line Ups
The Game
3' Deulofeu races past his marker only to be brought down for a free-kick, which is swung in too close too their keeper.
10' (1-0) FIRST GOAL!!! Deulofeu picks up the ball from a sweet Roberto pass and he literally just walks the ball through 3 or 4 san marinese players and passes it into the net! Too easy! We have literally just passed it around all game so far.
16' Vadillo runs down the wing and takes on his man, as he takes it inside he passes to Johnny who is just outside the box but his shot goes straight at the keeper.
23' (2-0) JESSSSSE!!!!! Fantastic passing move until Deulofeu gets the ball, he dwells on it in so much space he could of built a kit car, Jese makes a run through the defence and Gerard finds him with a great goal and all Jese has to do is knock it round the keeper. Great link up! Gerard is having one hell of a game.
46' Great passing move from Roberto and Vadillo, Vadillo gets the ball on the wing and cuts inside but his shot doesn't trouble the keeper, poor from Vadillo I would expect him to do a lot better.
HT: I am puzzled, this is San Marino and we are only winning 2-0 at half-time. Against Hungary and Serbia we were 3-0 up at half-time, but I must take into concideration that I am playing a weaker squad. I walk into the quite changing room and tell the lads that they can do better. They all go out looking as they were when they come in, focused. I am bringing on Morata for Vadillo, moving Jese onto the left and putting Gerard on the right. Hopefully Alvaro can bring in that clinical edge we need to put more past this very poor side.
45' We get a corner straight away and it is hit straight towards the front post by Deulofeu, Borja runs in but can't get his head on it and the keeper calmly collects.
50' Deulofeu takes a quick throw in to Roberto who then passes it straight back. Gerard runs wide and takes a shot from a very tight angle and it rattles against the post. Close, but I am not very happy with him taking a shot from there. Aurtenetxe has picked up a knock somehow, I don't know what it is but he told me he still thinks he can play the rest of the game and I don't need to worry about it.
51' Roberto picks the ball up out wide and pisses it infield to Aurtenetxe who is running in. He takes a shot but he never really looked comfortable, it goes straight at the keeper, I'm going to have to take him off and bring on Alberto.
58' We pass it around San Marino like they aren't even there. Jese picks up the ball in a good position but puts it well over. We have not been clinical this match.
71' We get a free-kick just outside the box, Jese steps up to take it but leans too far back as he shoots and it goes just over.
74' I'm bringing Koke on, not because we need him, not because anyone is injured, but because we have been poor. Hopefully he can help us kick on. Pedro Obieng is coming off.
76' Isco swings in a beautiful free-kick from out wide and it is almost on target, just over. I think the keeper had it covered anyway though.
82' Roberto passes it out into Alberto out on the wing, he wips in a fierce cross. It gets tumbled around the box and knocked out to Johnny who puts his shot well over the bar.
85' (3-0) OOH WHAT A GOAL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! MY GOODNESS!!!!! UN-BE-LIEVEBLE!!!!!!! Passing move from the boys round midfield, Roberto hits it out to Jese who puts in a great cross, it gets knocked out to Koke about 25-30 yards out and he hits one of the sweetest volleys I have ever seen in my life right into the top corner. WOW! By the way this is my first second-half goal, 3 games in. Shows how we can usually get the job done pretty early.
88' (3-1) Oh my goodness! I have just thrown my papers on the ground and headed off to the changing room to wait for full-time. We have just conceded to San Marino, SHAMEFUL! Absolutely poor defending from Alberta just stands off his man and waits for him to pass it Raschi who puts it past our keeper. POOR, VERY VERY POOR!!!! My first goal conceded and it is to San Marino, oh my god.
90' I'm watching on the TV as Deulofeu hits the post from just inside the box, poor poor poor poor POOR! What on earth are we playing at, I am pacing up and down, I can't wait to get stuck into them.
91' We score but it is called offside. Koke hits a shot from just outside the box and it rattles off the crossbar, Morata runs in and knocks it in but he is offside.
FT: The boys come in and see me standing in the middle of the room with my hands on my hips, scowling. 'What was that?' I asked with a stern voice. Jese tells me 'A win' so I throw a boot at him. Sadly he ducks before it hits him. I told him to don't be so cheeky and tell them that we should of won by a lot more than 2 goals. This gets a mixed reception of 'A win is a win' and 'The boss is right'.
Stats
Thoughts
As I drive home I get a call on my phone, it is the RFEF. They want to schedule a meeting with me to discuss the progress of the team. I agree to meet them on Sunday the 15th in a South American restaurant in Barcelona, when they told me I got excited because I remembered hearing in an interview that it is the restaurant that Lionel Messi, Alexis Sanchez and the other South Americans at Barcelona and Espanyol like to go to, It must be good and of course, being a meeting, it is free!!!!
Meeting with the RFEF
As I arrive at the Restaurant I realise how seriously the RFEF take these sort of meetings. There are bodyguards everywhere you look and as I park up one of them walks over and say's that he is too guard my car, just in case some nut crack tries to vandalise it. As I walk in I see 5 people sat at a long-table, the rest of the building is empty and eerily quiet apart from a slight noise coming from the kitchen. One of these men I recognise immediately as the head of the RFEF, Ángel María Villar. I sit down next to the man who gave me my introduction to the Spanish system, Vicente Del Bosque who, like always, remained emotionless. 2 of the men I do not recognise and one of them I slightly recognise but I have no idea where from. As I sit down Vicente looks at me and tells me what a great job I have done so far and I return the congratulations to him as he has won 2 in the last 3 games and only lost to France narrowly.
I am not allowed to disclose what happened in this interview but Angel seemed pretty pleased with me and told me to carry on with what I am doing. During the steak, which was absolutely fantastic, I speak to the man who I can't remember not for the life of me think of who he is, he tells me off how he admired my playing style and that he liked me as a player aswell. As I drive home I realise who I was talking to. All-time Champions League top scorer and Real Madrid legend Raul...
Spain U-21 v Portugal U-21
Line Ups
The Game
8' We are letting Portugal pass it around their defence but whenever they try to get forward we take it straight off them. They start a move but Muniesa takes it easily off Bruma and passes it down field, Jese collects it, takes on his man, but hits his shot straight at their keeper.
11' (1-0) WE ARE OFF!!!!!! We pass it around the box and Jese finds space just to punt the ball into the net from just inside the box. Great strike!
14' (2-0) GOOOOOAAAAALLLLL!!! Portugal push too many players up field. When we take it off them it is given to Isco on the halfway line, he finds Deulofeu on the halfway line who straight away hits a lovely ball into the path of Morata. Alvaro heads into the box and passes it across to Isco, who has ran from the halfway line, and all he has to do is run it in! Fantastic play!
16' (3-0) OH MY LORD!!!!!!!! IT'S THREE!!!!!! Isco wips in a beautiful corner, Junior attempts to head the ball out but only finds Muniesa and Marc loops his header over the keeper.
40' (4-0) HAHAHA LET'S ALL LAUGH AT PORTUGAL!!!!!!!!! Not much has happened but suddenly Jese get's the ball and cuts inside. Morata makes a run into the box and Jese finds him with a sweet pass, Alvaro takes a touch and hits it powerfully into the bottom corner from just inside the box, the keeper stood no chance.
HT: At half-time the lads come off to a standing ovation from the fans. What a half, this is what I tell them in the changing rooms. What a fantastic atmosphere around our squad at the moment! Everyone get's along and they all trust each other, you only have to spend 2 minutes in the changing room in moments like this to realise. They all go around patting each other and there are high-fives going out everywhere. C'MON LADS!!!!
47' (5-0) What a cock up by their keeper! We pass it around outside the box after Isco hits in a corner that get's cleared out. Jese makes a move into the box and Alberto gives him the ball, Jese hits it straight at the keeper but he pushes it into his own net. I am starting to feel sorry for portugal, haha only kidding. Heuer Fernandes, hang your head in shame!
50' Wow, Fernandes has made a save! We get a free-kick from a wide position, Isco hits a powerful ball into the far post but Fernandes gets their and holds on to it.
60' (6-0) SIX ON THE SIXTY!!!!!! Deulofeu heads down the right flank, hits in a ball and Baio collects it from just outside the 6 yard box. I have no idea what he was thinking but he just passes it straight to Alvaro who hits the net with his first time shot! This is getting embaressing for Portugal!
63' (6-1) Yay Portugal scored, even i'm clapping them. They haven't gave up and they have got a goal. Almeida runs down the wing and takes on Alberto, he crosses it deep into the back off the box and Nunes latches onto it with a volley that sails right past Ortolo. Nothing could be done about that one, good goal in all fairness.
66' (7-1) It was good whilst it lasted, i'm not even celebrating anymore, even i'm getting embarressed for Portugal. Duelofeu picks up the ball on the flank, takes on his man, cuts inisde, and hits a powerful drive into the near corner. Yawwwwwn...
70' (7-2) Portugal have scored again. Baio takes a quick throw-in to Bruno, who wips in a great cross to the front post and Almeida taps it past Ortolo.
75' Sergi Roberto is starting to look tired. I'm taking him off and bringing Obiang on, no point risking him when we are winning by 5 goals.
87' Close by Koke. Jonny heads down the wing and passes it back to Koke who is standing just outside the box. He hits a powerful shot that zips round the wrong side of the post, unlucky.
FT: YEEEEEEES!!!!!! What a fantastic game, we absolutely destroyed them! I walk across to shake hands with Rui Jorge and as he shakes my hand he looks at me in disbelief, he tells me that I have a fantastic squad and that he couldn't believe how outplayed his team were. I smile to myself at this and head down the tunell to party in the dressing room with the boys, WHAT A WIN!
Stats
Great win after an average win against San Marino and against Portugal who must be considered rivals!
Northern Ireland U-21 v Spain U-21
Line Ups
The Game
7' (1-0) OH NO! We set off to a poor start and we are behind for the first time in my management!! Nolen hits a long-ball forward to Croskery, he takes the ball down and runs into the box, Badia comes out and Croskery hits a chip over him. For gods sake Badia!
9' Wow Obieng! We pass it around fantastically just outside their box. The ball drops to Obieng and to be honest I don't think it could be hit anymore wide, it almost went out for a throw-in! At least we look like we are getting into this game.
25' We pass it around our midfield for a long time before Isco finds Morata making a run, he puts in a decent through ball to Alvaro but he sees his shot saved well by their keeper.
36' (1-1) FINALLY! AN EQUALISER! Jese hits the ball forward from the half-way line, Morata heads it on to and on-rushing Isco who slots it into the corner. Poor start but let's put that behind us.
HT: I stand up and sigh. What a boring game, we have not been clinical enough in our chances! I walk into the changing room and tell them exactly what I think about how we are only drawing with Northern Ireland. They all run out looking fired-up for the second half, hopefully we will see better!
86' PENALTY!!!!!!!!!!!! Yes and we have had to wait until the 86th minute for anything to happen! Jonny takes a throw-in and gives it to Duelofeu who runs into the box and gets taken down by Wilson. Isco to take the penalty.
86' (1-2) GOAL!!!!!!!!! Isco dispatches the penalty calmly to the left and the keeper doesn't move. Little bit disapointed to need a penalty to go in to the lead but I won't argue.
90' (1-3) YES!!! We have clinched the victory! Jese picks up the ball on the half-way line and put's a brilliant lofted ball through Norther Irelands feeble attempt of an offside trap. Morata runs through and takes the ball, he then hits a shot into the top corner from just outside the box. Great goal.
FT: I stand up and walk straight down the changing room. A win is a win and i don't really have much to say so I let Albert Celades talk to the lads after the game. He tells the lads that it was a good win and they all look happy, let's try and forget this one, such a boring game!
Stats
UEFA Under-21 Championship Qualifiers Group Update
Since most teams are around half-way through their qualifiers, I will give you an update on what is happening in the different groups.
Cruising in Group A! San Marino aren't doing too bad either considering their incredibly low standards. 2 draws and 4 goals 
Paddy: San Marino have been plucky I must say 
Bayern: Not if France have anything to say about it. They've been doing just as good, if not better!
Bayern: Not if France have anything to say about it. They've been doing just as good, if not better!
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