A phrase resonated strongly in Kuip’s halls minutes after the tables signed by the Netherlands and Spain. “In the return we are going to paint their face,” Nico Williams screened before the microphones. An unusual phrase in the costumes of The red which usually opts for the low profile. “Has that really said? Well, they must be very sure of themselves,” said an surprised Xavi Simons with irony. The one who did not want to step on the puddle was the hero of the night. “I have a more restrained profile than Nico’s,” Mikel Merino (Pamplona, 1996) joked with his usual smile of a child who has not broken a dish in his life, an undisputed protagonist in Rotterdam with his goal in the addition that saved the honor (and unbeatability) of Spain.
If some day Merino decides to put on gloves, place under the sticks and start making decisive stops should not surprise anyone. It is the last step left to complete all the letters of the word versatility. Pamplonica is a crib midfielder, exercising in all positions, from the middle center to the half -tip passing through the interior, where he has played more. When he left Tajonar for Dortmund, being a kid, Tuchel invented it as a central one and was never uncomfortable. But it is that a few years later, just over a month ago, Arteta decided to make him the new Arsenal striker.
Pamplona’s, cradle midfielder, played Central in the Dortmund and now does nine
Without the injured Gabriel Jesús and Havertz, coach Donostiarra considered that for his profile, for his ability to play back and for his skills, he met the requirements to exercise nine. “We are in an emergency situation and its way of addressing it is incredible. He wants to understand everything, he wants to learn and is very critical with himself,” said Arsenal coach, grateful to the footballer.
The proposal took Merino by surprise, although it was not the first time that he had to be released in a new role. Obedient and motivated, as always, he accepted it. He premiered against Leicester last month. And the result could not be better. He entered the 70th minute and scored two goals. Merino has always been a midfielder with a goal, he is approaching Diana 50 in his career, an ease to note that he also pushed Arteta to this conversion, even in progress. “I am learning many things that I did not know. Now I put myself in the situation of a nine and I understand him better. I understand why he despairs when he plays little ball,” he emphasized in the mixed area of De Kuip. “I also begin to learn more tactical, positioning issues, to try to look for the blind sides of the central so that they do not revere you or when to attack one or another. Playing a striker makes me a more complete footballer, such as when I played from Central in Dortmund,” he expanded.
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The source continues to use as a midfielder but his goal smell makes him a very useful piece for the selection. Before the Netherlands, its movement waiting for the goalkeeper’s error to score the 2-2 in the addition was pure center striker. Merino has always highlighted for his intelligence in green and all this learning that accumulates makes him grow and gain weight also in the red wardrobe. His scoring figures with Spain do not attract attention, for the moment, having signed 3 goals in 32 appearances. But the last two are those that transcend the numbers: the header against Germany in the quarterfinals of the Eurocup (minute 119) and opportunism to avoid defeat against Netherlands (90+3). Mikel Merino, a midfielder who does everything right: defend, organize and attack. Cube versatility.
