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Luis de la Fuente: "If we are not faithful to our Spanish style, we have no chance of winning".

The national coach reiterates his message on the eve of the title match against England in Berlin: "There are no favourites for tomorrow's game, we'll leave that to the bookmakers".
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Sat, 13/07/2024 - 23:40

CLICK HERE TO LISTEN TO THE COMMENTS MADE BY INTERNATIONAL FULLBACK JESÚS NAVAS DURING THE PRE-MATCH PRESS CONFERENCE BEFORE SPAIN VS ENGLAND

 

"This match won't change my life because I know what I am and what it means to compete. I enjoy seeing people happy and it's exciting and it’s also great to see a country showing signs of harmony and unity that it hasn't had for a long time". The words of the national coach, Luis de la Fuente, resonated because of the forcefulness of his message, together with the gentleness of his delivery.

The 63-year-old from Haro has reaffirmed his sporting values 24 hours before Spain and England play each other for the title of European Champions in Berlin: "I'm happy. In my life I only have time to focus on the positive things. We are facing one of the most important sporting milestones and we are calm, excited and happy to be able to play for it," he said.

The coach made his comments in the same press room of the Olympic Stadium in Berlin, where thirty days ago he appeared before journalists on the eve of his debut as a coach at a European Championships, which he recalled by stating that "when we arrived here a month ago we discussed the possibility of being back here. The match will be played by the two best teams in the tournament and in such a close match it will be the finer details that decide it. The team is in top form at the moment, which means it's an exceptional moment to play a match of this magnitude".

England are the last hurdle on the road to glory and that's why the coach from La Rioja avoids the label of favourites, as "there are no favourites for tomorrow's game, we leave that to the bookmakers. We know that if we don't make any mistakes we have a chance of winning. I know that the team will give everything".

The key for Luis de la Fuente will be in his own team rather than the opposition, warning that "If we are not faithful to our Spanish style, we have no chance of winning. We have to be recognisably ourselves, that’s more important than what our opponents have to offer. We have to impose our way of playing and that's how we'll have a chance. We’re not thinking past the match, only to get to tomorrow feeling good. What I am satisfied with is the process that has got us this far. Nothing has been gifted to this team and the excitement that has been generated is not for nothing: there is a great present and a great future in terms of our players".

Among all of them, he highlighted the work and commitment of Pedri and Ayoze, who will not be able to participate due to injury, while he also revealed that Gavi will accompany the team during the final in Berlin, on which he reflected that "there are very poetic phrases such as that finals are there to be won. The memory of football is quite fragile, but whoever has played in a final doesn't forget it. Pride is not only in being in a final, but in knowing how we got here. The players who go out there will be the ones we think are the best for this match".

"We have already created history together," continued the Nations League winning coach, underlining that "many players in our national team have played in finals, but only Jesús Navas has played in the European Championships final. It will be something to enjoy and something they will remember for the rest of their lives. We have a historic opportunity.

Asked at a press conference about his spirituality, he even left this final sentence about the role of the divine in a meeting like this Sunday's: "faith for me is something personal and transferable, something totally opposed to being superstitious", he concluded.

 

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