Aspas says Spain omission ‘hurts’

Iago Aspas claims he hasn’t given up hope of beating Luis Enrique before the World Cup due to a “stubborn” streak.

The Celta Vigo striker was left out of Enrique’s latest Spain squad.

As a result, he will miss the forthcoming Nations League games against Switzerland and Portugal.

Those are La Roja’s final games before the World Cup team is announced, and those who have missed out may be concerned.

Aspas has 23 goals and seven assists in 43 LaLiga appearances for Celta since the start of last season.

With that goals return only beaten by Real Madrid’s Karim Benzema (30).

Those goals have come at a pace of one per 157.96 minutes, from an expected goal tally of 16.42, indicating that his finishing is above typical performance levels.

The 35-year-old former Liverpool player had hoped that such success would put him in contention for a spot in the team for Qatar 2022, but he now has to compete with the likes of Borja Iglesias and Ferran Torres.

Aspas told the Cadena Ser programme ‘El Larguero’ that now was not the time to give up on his ambition.

He said:

“Hope is the last thing you lose, but it is true that I haven’t gone [with the national team] for a while.

“I finished last season quite well and now I have continuity in the league.

“Of course it hurts not to go, I’m stubborn and I’m not going to give up until the end.

“If I get on the final list, all the better. They pay me to play for Celta.

“But I have that prize just around the corner and I’ll do everything possible.”

Aspas, who has six goals from 19 caps for Spain.

He is convinced it is a footballing issue rather than anything personal with Enrique.

“If not, he would have told me because the coach is up front,” Aspas added.

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