Mikel Merino: ‘There couldn’t be more pressure on us, we put it on ourselves’.
A year after starring in the UEFA Nations League final won by Spain, Mikel Merino goes into the first major summer tournament of his career in Germany, and does so with Croatia, Spain’s rival for the title for the Nations League, as the first opponent in the opener next Saturday
🗣️ @mikelmerino1, jugador internacional: "El de Croacia es uno de los mejores centros del campo que hay en la Eurocopa".
— Selección Española Masculina de Fútbol (@SEFutbol) June 12, 2024
➡️ "Ya lo vimos en la Nations League. Si los croatas son capaces de pensar, pueden controlar el juego y te hacen sufrir".#VamosEspaña | #EURO2024 pic.twitter.com/MdmISHe9hk
For the midfielder from Navarre, ‘Croatia has one of the best midfields in the European Championships and we saw in the Nations League that if you allow them time to think, they can control the game and make you suffer’.
🗣️ @mikelmerino1, jugador internacional: "Si algo he aprendido de Luis de la Fuente en estos años que llevamos juntos es que es una buena persona".
— Selección Española Masculina de Fútbol (@SEFutbol) June 12, 2024
➡️ "Siempre va de frente con todos nosotros, nos cuida, se preocupa por nosotros y mira por el grupo".#VamosEspaña | #EURO2024 pic.twitter.com/kDb9e38tzE
The issue of the national team's style of play dominated questions at Wednesday's press conference in Donaueschingen, with Merino stating that he is ‘in favour of having a clear style, but while being able to adapt to different match situations. Spain will try to be dominant on the ball, but without being obsessed with style.
🗣️ @mikelmerino1: "Creo que nuestra selección es un equipo completo que se adapta a diferentes sistemas según la situación del partido".
— Selección Española Masculina de Fútbol (@SEFutbol) June 12, 2024
➡️ "Vamos a intentar dominar el balón, asfixiar al rival y ser protagonistas de los partidos".#VamosEspaña | #EURO2024 pic.twitter.com/zOAapsgUwa
He also mentioned the figure at the head of the group, the coach, saying ‘Luis de la Fuente is a very good person, someone who always plays things straight, who takes care of you and worries about you. It's a pleasure to have him as a coach".
🗣️ @mikelmerino1: "Tengo recuerdos buenos de mi etapa en Alemania. Aprendí mucho en un Borussia que llegó a cuartos de Champions y tenía unos jugadores espectaculares".
— Selección Española Masculina de Fútbol (@SEFutbol) June 12, 2024
➡️ "He madurado mucho desde entonces y estoy en el mejor momento de mi carrera".#VamosEspaña | #EURO2024 pic.twitter.com/X8nw8oq0eR
Mikel Merino talked about his professional experience in Germany, the venue for this year's European Championships, to which Spain go into with the highest aspirations and ‘the belief to be able to compete against everyone. Our satisfaction will only come from knowing that you've given one hundred percent. We have to focus on having a good, cohesive group in which we all feel responsible for doing a great job. We must not give up and keep on working together.
That and a desire to be successful means the squad is aware that ‘there couldn’t be more pressure on us, we put it on ourselves because we need all the players to give our best’, Mikel says.