Ramos praises ex Barcelona player after win against Norway

Real Madrid defender Sergio Ramos was on duty for Spain in the opening fixture of their Euro 2020 qualifying campaign at home to Norway on Saturday, helping La Roja to a hard-earned 2-1 win over the Scandinavians side.

While Ramos and his teammates had to fight to earn the 2-1 home win over the Norwegians on Saturday, the Real Madrid defender made a revelation after the match that would have left fans of Barcelona and Real Madrid a little surprised.

According to the Real Madrid captain, he has been impressed so far by the work of his national team manager who was also a former Barcelona boss and midfielder, Luis Enrique, hailing his impact at the national team after making a winning start to their Euro 2020 qualifying campaign.

The Spaniards got all three points against Norway at the Mestella Stadium in Valencia but needed a coolly taken penalty from Ramos to take the points after Bournemouth striker Josh King had cancelled out Rodrigo Moreno’s opener.

With the goal against Norway, Ramos has now scored in five consecutive appearances for Spain and the national team captain believes the team is in good hands after the appointment of former Barcelona coach Enrique.

“You always have the dream and the goal of achieving something important,” Ramos said to TVE. “We are in a new dynamic of working with a coach who has a wonderful philosophy of play, then we will see match by match. Winning will make us feel more confident.”

Ramos added: “A new road starts and what better way than to start winning against an opponent that has made it complicated despite the fact that we had the ball? We knew it was going to hurt.”

Meanwhile, Enrique stated he had no doubts that Ramos would convert his penalty, with the defender beating Rune Jarstein with a Panenka after the goalkeeper felled Atletico Madrid’s striker who is on loan from Premier League side Cheslea, Alvaro Morata.

“Sergio Ramos is a unique player in the history of world football,” the Spain coach said to Teledeporte. “A player with that personality, I know he’s going to shoot well.”

Ramos took a bang to the head in the closing stages of the game as Spain saw out their victory. The former European champions will be looking to continue their winning start to the qualifying campaign when they take on Malta on Tuesday.

“Now I feel well,” Ramos added. “I suppose the inconvenience of the blow will come later.”