Luis de la Fuente: "We want to finish the year with top marks"

"There's no free ride here. We want to win and win well". With these words is how Luis de la Fuente made clear the importance of this Sunday's match against Georgia. The crucial match will decide the group winners in the qualification phase for the European Championships and a good result could make it possible for Spain to be seeded for the tournament in Germany.

🗣️ Luis de la Fuente, seleccionador nacional: "Gracias, Valladolid".

➡️ "Quiero agradecer el recibimiento que hemos tenido. La gente está volcada con nosotros".

➡️ "Esperamos corresponder mañana con un bonito espectáculo y un gran partido".#VamosEspaña | #EURO2024 pic.twitter.com/GIl0l5p4ut

— Selección Española Masculina de Fútbol (@SEFutbol) November 18, 2023

The national coach is well aware that "the reception we received was spectacular, the stadium will be full and we want to pay the fans back with a great performance. We can't and won't disappoint."

🗣️ Luis de la Fuente: "Estamos en camino de construir una gran selección y un gran equipo. Hemos dado pasos muy importantes desde que estamos juntos".

➡️ "Queremos seguir creciendo, pero se reconoce una idea, un modelo y un equipo".#VamosEspaña | #EURO2024 pic.twitter.com/Y2iMUReXPi

— Selección Española Masculina de Fútbol (@SEFutbol) November 18, 2023

The match against Georgia is the last game of a great year for Spain. A year which the coach from La Rioja considers to have been "outstanding in terms of the players' work. We have to finish the job and finish the qualification stages with a victory. There is work to do and although I'm happy with what we've done, I always want more".

🗣️ Luis de la Fuente: "@DaniCarvajal92 lo ha ganado todo y es un jugador que aporta nos muchísimo en el campo y en el vestuario".

➡️ "Los jugadores veteranos son el espejo donde se miran los más jóvenes. Son el motor del equipo y nos ayudan mucho".#VamosEspaña | #EURO2024 pic.twitter.com/JfKF8WnyBb

— Selección Española Masculina de Fútbol (@SEFutbol) November 18, 2023

Regarding the possibility being a top seed for the European Championships draw, De la Fuente underlined the importance of achieving this, given that "it is better to be spoken well of, to be valued by other professional players. That makes you feel more confident and you can consider yourself an important national side before a big tournament".

🗣️ Luis de la Fuente: "Sabemos que no podemos fallar y defraudar a la gente que confía en nosotros, pero en esa responsabilidad nos sentimos cómodos".

➡️ "Los jugadores siempre dan la cara y entienden lo que significa representar a España".#VamosEspaña | #EURO2024 pic.twitter.com/ShfOKNpPqM

— Selección Española Masculina de Fútbol (@SEFutbol) November 18, 2023

The names of Jesús Navas, Dani Carvajal, Gavi, Lamine Yamal and possible debutant Álex Remiro were also mentioned during the coach's press conference in which he confirmed that all the players are in perfect condition for the clash and that, despite having an extraordinary group of players, none of them are guaranteed a starting place: "We don't give anything away here and the players who are here are here because they have earned it", he said.