Julen Guerrero: "For Morata, it's a blow not to be at the World Cup"

Julen Guerrero spoke to AS to give his thoughts on Julen Lopetegui's definitive 23-man list for World Cup Russia. The former Athletic Club and Spain player says Álvaro Morata will be sore at having been left out...

Always someone left out

Overall, Guerrero says he is pleased with the Spain squad that will be travelling to Russia: “If the coach has elected those 23 players then I am sure he must have complete faith in them. Obviously, there will always be players who are left out which means it’s always going to be complicated. The coach is restricted because he can only take 23 players. So, from this point on, we have to focus on those who will be at the World Cup. Lopetegui has many options in each position, it’s a great team and with all due respect to the rest of the countries who will be taking part, let’s hope we go as far as possible.

Timing wrong for Morata

For Morata, Lopetegui's list will come as a huge disappointment: “It’s a blow for him because the World Cup only comes around once every four years and now he’ll have to wait another four years to get another chance and we’ll see how he is doing when that moment comes. Maybe, during the past few months, some players have been more active – and also have been performing very well, and perhaps it would be difficult to take four strikers to Russia, as that would mean leaving out someone in another position. In the end that was a decision which the coach had to take”.

“In the last few games he’s played well but a lot of it is down to timing – maybe it the list was drawn up a year ago, he might be in it. But in the meantime, some players have overtaken him and convinced the coach that they deserve to be included", Guerrero continued.

With Morata omitted, it will be down to Valencia's Rodrigo and Celta's Iago Aspas to supply the goals for La Roja this summer and Guerrero says both of them have earned their place in the list: “Both of them have enjoyed a brilliant season, they’ve both done a great job leading the attack in their respective teams and also, they give the coach alternatives as they are able to slot into different positions. There might be moments during close matches when you need players who guarantee goals. I’m sure Lopetegui has studied and considered all of those things”.

Spain in with a good chance

“I think Spain have the ability to go all the way to the final – and I say that with great respect to the other teams, because first you have to get through the group stage and after that, it depends on one game, during which a thousand things can happen… but in terms of quality and players, Spain have that – and a team which can at the very least, dream about winning it again" Guerrero ended..