Luis de la Fuente: ‘We can qualify for the quarter-finals so it is an important day’.
Luis de la Fuente began by commenting on Lamine Yamal's situation: ‘He was feeling some discomfort, I spoke to him, I asked him how he was, I doubt that he could make it back for Tuesday and in this situation we have decided to rest him. We have done it with others too, he is no exception. We haven't felt any kind of pressure, I have a very good relationship with Barça. There has simply been sincerity and honesty, and I thank him for the gesture in a game that could qualify us for the quarter-finals of the Nations League.
‘Last season we played 17 games, this season we will play 10 games. The average is one game a month for those who play the most,’ said the national coach when asked about injuries. He added: ‘We are not closing the door on any player, injuries to some allow other players who have had less playing time to show what they are capable of.
🗣️ Luis de la Fuente: "Nosotros no cerramos la puerta a nadie. Tenemos dos laterales que ya han convivido con nosotros y a quienes conocemos".
— Selección Española Masculina de Fútbol (@SEFutbol) October 14, 2024
➡️ "Estoy muy tranquilo con @Pedroporro29_ y @OscarMingueza, saben lo que les voy a pedir".#VamosEspaña | #NationsLeague pic.twitter.com/BHgAwA5BLi
"We have very clear ideas, it's true that there are variations that occur due to the change of players and their characteristics. It's neither better nor worse, the idea is the same but we play differently. We have many more styles and we want to be strong in all of these. We are very calm, we have players who can do the job perfectly. Tomorrow is a very difficult match for the future of the Spanish national team, we have to focus on that,’ argued Luis de la Fuente.
🗣️ Luis de la Fuente: "Nosotros tenemos muy clara nuestra idea y nuestro concepto futbolístico".
— Selección Española Masculina de Fútbol (@SEFutbol) October 14, 2024
➡️ "Mañana va a ser un partido muy importante y muy difícil para la @SEFutbol. Podríamos lograr una clasificación, enfoquémonos en ello".#VamosEspaña | #NationsLeague pic.twitter.com/OGU18gmLx6
The Spanish coach confirmed that, even if a place in the quarter-finals of the Nations League is secured , the team ‘will still want to finish first in the group’, alluding to the team's unquenchable ambition.
Regarding tomorrow's opponents, Luis de la Fuente commented: ‘Serbia are a very good team, all their players play in very important leagues. They are a team that has nothing to do with Denmark (their previous opponent), they are a counter-attacking team. We're going to have to work hard, they're very physical and, technically, very balanced. We'll have to be at our best, in international matches there are no small opponents, they always demand excellence from you.
‘All the players want to play for the national team, and football fans want Spain to win with our best players’. ‘It's a luxury to have them, I'm very happy with all of them, they are the best. An idea is consolidated through the repetition of the input, concluded De la Fuente.
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