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Luis de la Fuente: "The message got through to the players”

The manager has faith that his team can improve before Sunday and highlights the level of talent among his Spanish players
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Fri, 16/06/2023 - 12:49

National coach, Luis de la Fuente, spoke to the media in the press room at FC Twente Stadion after the victory against Italy. He did it with "satisfaction and pride following a match played at a very high level" in which he believes the players followed his instructions "to the letter", "in addition to having displayed talent" on the field of play. This is a great way to get through to the final where Croatia will be a "very difficult" opponent, as they have proven themselves to be; but he indicated that the Spain team and himself are in incredibly high spirits".

Regarding the apparent change of performance levels from the disappointment of the previous game against Scotland, in Glasgow, the manager insisted: "We are the same." Before explaining that "we have more experience and knowledge of the tactics; but, if at that time I was optimistic because I can recognise things that we had worked on, despite the previous result, today I am more optimistic because I think the message has got through and the players have taken it in", has explained. "I think that in Sunday's game we will improve even more," he predicted.

The Spain Manager said that "everything has turned out ideal, just as we had planned and what we though would happen, happened"; and he wanted to pass on the credit for the victory to his international players. "I am privileged to be able to choose from a group of great football players that we have in all positions," De la Fuente stressed, praising both those who played the match and those who watched it from the bench.

Moving on to Croatia, Sunday's opponent, De la Fuente pointed out that, although he did not have the opportunity to see the match between the Netherlands and Croatia on Wednesday, he and his coaching staff know exactly how the team plays. "It will be quite even in terms of heavy legs," he said, believing that the fact that the Croatian team played an extra time is balanced with having 24 less hours of recovery with their own players.

Final Nations League 2023