Luis de la Fuente: "We're happy with the contract renewal announcement"

CLICK HERE TO LISTEN TO MARC CUCURELLA’S PRE-MATCH INTERVIEW BEFORE THE SPAIN-ANDORRA MATCH

Minutes after being greeted by hundreds of fans upon their arrival in Badajoz, the Spanish National Team held a press conference at the Nuevo Vivero stadium in Badajoz, the venue for Wednesday's warm-up match against Andorra.

🗣️ Luis de la Fuente, seleccionador nacional: "Estamos felices con este anuncio y también de que haya sido en este día".

➡️ "Afrontamos este reto con responsabilidad, normalidad y con ilusión por lo que tenemos entre manos".#VamosEspaña | #EURO2024 pic.twitter.com/bbdVfrjxHg

— Selección Española Masculina de Fútbol (@SEFutbol) June 4, 2024

Luis de la Fuente took the opportunity to thank the Spain fans in Extremadura for their warm welcome and declared that ‘we are very happy to be in Badajoz’.

🗣️ Luis de la Fuente, seleccionador nacional: "Yo estaba tranquilo. Creo que estamos haciendo un muy buen trabajo".

➡️ "Ahora me gustaría centrarme en fútbol, fútbol y fútbol. En nuestros entrenamientos y en los rivales. Quiero centrarme solo en eso".#VamosEspaña | #EURO2024 pic.twitter.com/wg4bq1VoiG

— Selección Española Masculina de Fútbol (@SEFutbol) June 4, 2024

Afterwards, the coach referred to the news of the final agreement of his contract renewal as something ‘we take with responsibility, calmness and with enthusiasm for what we have in our hands. We are happy with this announcement and also that it has been made on this day’.

🗣️ Luis de la Fuente, seleccionador nacional: "Hay un ambiente excepcional. Es un grupo unido en el que los nuevos se amoldan rápidamente".

➡️ "No veo nerviosismo o tensión. Veo competencia, ilusión y ganas de demostrar en cada entrenamiento".#VamosEspaña | #EURO2024 pic.twitter.com/fHL7kjYykG

— Selección Española Masculina de Fútbol (@SEFutbol) June 4, 2024

‘Now I would like to focus on football, football and football. On our training sessions and on our opponents,’ continued the coach from La Rioja, who gave a very positive assessment of his players performance in training so far in the camp, with particular praise paid to players of pillars of the squad such as of Pedri González and Jesús Navas.

🗣️ Luis de la Fuente, seleccionador nacional: "@Pedri ha vuelto. Le hemos visto con mucha ilusión, trabajando con energía y con ganas de demostrar".

➡️ "No tiene que demostrarme nada, le conozco perfectamente".#VamosEspaña | #EURO2024 pic.twitter.com/kzmlxAeGeJ

— Selección Española Masculina de Fútbol (@SEFutbol) June 4, 2024

Giving a general assessment of the mood in the camp, De la Fuente commented, ‘I don't see nervousness or tension, but rather competitiveness, enthusiasm and the desire to demonstrate their quality in every training session. There is an exceptional atmosphere with a united group to which the new players have adapted quickly’.

With his job secure and a squad bursting with talent, quality and commitment, it's easy to see why the Spain coach is already looking forward to the first of his team’s tests against Andorra on Wednesday: ‘We needed games to find our rhythm,’ he says.