'They tried to paint me as an ogre' - Robert Moreno on his sacking

Robert Moreno has spoken about the turmoil that followed his dismissal by Luis Enrique, saying the personal toll of being cast as a villain was heavy. The pair had one of the most successful partnerships in modern Spanish football, working together at Roma, Celta Vigo and Barcelona, but their relationship collapsed in 2019 when Luis Enrique returned to the Spain bench after the tragic death of his daughter.

Moreno, who had stepped in to secure Euro 2020 qualification, found himself surplus to requirements. He described a sudden end to their long-term collaboration that began behind closed doors and quickly spilled into the public eye. "I went to his house after the unfortunate death of his daughter and told him that what I had done publicly, I was going to fulfill," Moreno said.

"He told me that he no longer counted on me, that he would never coach with me again." He added: "They tried to paint me as an ogre, as someone who wanted to stay at all costs.

Spain

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