In the 65th minute of the UEFA Nations League semi-final against Italy Unai Simón made a wonder save, almost as decisive as Joselu's late winner that put the national team into the final of the tournament. It was a key intervention, with cat-like reflexes at the crucial moment. The Spanish goal was well protected by a goalkeeper who has already been capped 32 times and who knows Luis de la Fuente well, having worked with him in the youth set up. The fact they have worked together in the past makes the communion between the coaching staff and the dressing room special, enhancing commitment and enthusiasm and even more so now that there is a trophy at stake.
“Perhaps I have a slightly closer relationship with the manager than some other teammates because we came through the ranks together, recalls the Athletico Bilbao goalkeeper. “I was with him in the Spain Under-18. You must show him the courage and fight and that you can show them on the pitch until the final whistle. What is being asked of us is that at this point in the season we continue with a very good level of performance, at a good intensity, and that we end up fighting for a title”.
Unai Simón was brilliant in Enschede and now, like many of the 23 chosen by De la Fuente, he hopes to get his hands on his first piece of silverware for the National Team, although for this he will have to go up against the ever-competitive Croatia. "We know that Croatia has world-class individual players," admits the goalkeeper, who praises Modric without wanting to single only him out since the Balkans are a very fearsome collective outfit. “Luka (Modric) is one of them. They compete very well, the match against the Netherlands showed that they are a team that knew how to compete until the very end. I think it's going to be a tight match, and whoever knows how to compete best will be able to take the title”.
On Thursday, Unai Simón celebrated Joselu´s success massively, from his comfortable position between the sticks. Joselu´s nose for a goal is amazing: “Joselu is one of those strikers who has many virtues. He gives us a lot with direct play when they put us under a high press. He is a great finisher. The goal that he scored against Italy is typical of the fox-in-the-box, from being right on the edge of being offside, reading where the rebound would go... for those forwards... it's a gift. It is not something that can be taught, it is something that´s innate: Joselu has it, Álvaro (Morata) also has it…”.
The goalkeeper says that the important thing is that everyone in this group plays their role regardless of who starts or who contributes coming from the bench. “It is also very important to recognise that the bench also plays, not just the eleven that start. You have to always be prepared. The coach has decided to play someone else, but your time could come in the last ten minutes. And with Joselu we are delighted, I´m amazed with him and with the fact that he can achieve all these things, we hope that he continues to give us much more joy”.
These moments of joy and seeing people happy are what motivates Luis de la Fuente's team in the face of the chance to win a title eleven years after the last great celebration. "We want to put that feeling back into the hearts of our fans and I think it will be worth giving everything to win this title due to what it may bring our way in the future."