Luis de la Fuente: “Hopefully we can repay the Canary Islands fans for the support they’re showing us”
“I want to thank the fans in the Canary Islands for the support they’re giving us; it’s been fantastic and spectacular to see. Hopefully tomorrow we can repay them with great football and a good p performance,” the national coach said appreciatively as he began the press conference.
When asked for his thoughts on the team’s progress, De la Fuente reflected: “We’ve given it everything, and in terms of objectives, it’s been a dream season. There’s always room for improvement, and we want to finish tomorrow with one more victory. This is a team that doesn’t stop striving to improve. We want to leave a good impression ahead of the March internationals,” he remarked on the year.
“I can see that people value me equally on a personal and professional level, and I love that,” the manager admitted.
When asked about the possibility of Spain reaching the top of the FIFA World Ranking, he said: “Our obligation is to win tomorrow. There’s a lot at stake: prestige and our responsibility to the country. When we began this journey two years ago, we were ranked 11th, and now we have the chance to be number one. It’s always a special achievement. The path we’ve taken and the way we’ve done it has been fantastic. You couldn’t ask for more from this year, but we still want to win. Tomorrow’s lineup will be a great team built to win, but there will be some changes.”
Regarding the Nations League, Luis de la Fuente commented that “the level of difficulty is like a European Championships,” and he did not express a preference for any particular opponent in the next round in March.
When asked about the open training session in Tenerife, the coach said: “Today was clearly a special situation for charity, in support of those affected by the floods. As for the future? I’m not sure. We prioritise work, professionalism, and the players. The days before a match involve important technical preparation. While we’re very close to the supporters, there are things we need to work on.”
On returning to play in Santa Cruz de Tenerife for the first time in over twenty years, De la Fuente said: “The atmosphere we’re experiencing is incredible. The stadium will be packed, and we’re expecting a fantastic and enjoyable environment.”
“We have a brilliant present, but an even better future,” concluded the national coach, wrapping up the press conference.
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