Luis de la Fuente: “I have the best”

On Georgia:
“We’re fighting for World Cup qualification, so every match counts. These games aren’t easy — Georgia is a tough opponent with many quality players. We have to give our best to win. The squad is focused and mentally prepared. We’re going out there to compete.”

On being FIFA World No. 1:
“I often tell the players, ‘you are the best.’ I don’t say it as a compliment — in my opinion, they truly are. Qualifying for the World Cup is our immediate goal, and after that, we’ll focus on the next challenge. Football is tough, and winning a title is never easy. Being in a position to compete for it is already an achievement, and I believe we can get there.”

On centre-back versatility:
“Whenever possible, I like having players specialized for each position, but we also have versatile players like Cubarsí and Le Normand. It’s an advantage to have flexibility in any role, especially at centre-back. It allows us to adapt during a match, but generally, we prefer to have all positions covered specifically.”

On leadership:
“We’re privileged to have a team at a fantastic level of maturity. Players like Merino, Oyarzabal, Dani Olmo, Ferran… take on leadership roles naturally. There are no egos — everyone accepts their role at the right moment. That’s one of our biggest strengths.”

On the climate and safety:
“I hope nothing happens, especially for the safety of the locals. We want to play normally. We’ve adjusted our travel plan and hope the match takes place smoothly, for the good of football and the national team.”

On Laporte:
“Having players return to the squad allows us to enjoy them more. He’s world-class, and we’ll soon see the best version of Laporte.”

 Full Press Conference Available