Luis de la Fuente: "Tonight’s match is a good lesson that can help us going forward"
After Colombia's 1-0 win at the Olympic Stadium in London, Luis de la Fuente preferred to focus on the positive aspects of this first match of Spain’s 2024, saying the match "has been very useful for us. We had forgotten what it means to lose and it's never pleasant, but I think the lesson is positive. The players’ debuts were not for the sake of it, but it is important for young players to face situations like today's and to be prepared for the future.
🗣️ Luis de la Fuente, seleccionador de la @SEFutbol: "No es agradable perder ningún partido, pero teníamos un rival muy poderoso delante".
— Selección Española Masculina de Fútbol (@SEFutbol) March 22, 2024
➡️ "A pesar de la derrota me quedo con las cosas positivas y las conclusiones que sacamos de cara al futuro".#VamosEspaña | #EURO2024 pic.twitter.com/qc17E8zALi
Regarding the development of the game, the coach believes that "the first half went very well for us in terms of style, but in the second half we lost control and played the way they wanted us to. On Tuesday we'll try to correct our mistakes.
🗣️ Luis de la Fuente: "Hemos afrontado el partido para ganar, nosotros no sabemos competir de otro modo".
— Selección Española Masculina de Fútbol (@SEFutbol) March 22, 2024
➡️ "No han faltado ni ambición ni ganas. No nos gusta perder y el vestuario está dolido por el resultado porque es ambicioso y quiere ganar".#VamosEspaña | #EURO2024 pic.twitter.com/iDUVNLOg8G
Colombia y Brasil son los dos primeros contrincantes para España en 2024 y el técnico riojano ha explicado cómo "nos
Colombia and Brazil are the first two opponents for Spain in 2024 and the coach from La Rioja explained how "we decided on this type of opponent because we think they are the right ones. We went into the match with the desire to win because we don't know how to play any other way. We came very close to taking the lead in the first half, although we didn't manage to. It's good that we have an ambitious, competitive team that wants to win".
De la Fuente remains optimistic ahead of the game in Madrid against the five-time world champions: "What makes us strong is the cohesion in the team and on Tuesday I'm convinced that it will be a different game," he concluded emphatically.