Laporte: “If we have the day, it is very difficult for a rival to beat us easily”

The defender of the Spanish team Aymeric Laporte made it clear this Wednesday that, “looking forward” in the World Cup in the United States, Mexico and Canada, the level they offer must be more similar to that offered against Saudi Arabia than against Cape Verde, starting with this Friday’s duel against a Uruguay that will go out “full” for what is at stake, although Spain must “focus” on itself and not be excessively aware of who its next rivals may be because “it is very difficult to beat the European champion easily” if this has its “day”.

“Yes, I hope that’s the case (that they get closer to the version of the game against Saudi Arabia). You also know what we can give and I think the second game represents us more than the first where although we had the ball and tried to create chances, clear ones too, it couldn’t be the victory. I think the second game was much more us, much more Spain, and we hope that in the future the games will be the same as this last one,” Laporte said at a press conference.

In this sense, he pointed out that he understood “perfectly” the criticism for the goalless draw against Cape Verde and that the locker room also “internally.” “We are the first interested in wanting to win every game and especially with a team that was supposed to be lower than ours in the world ranking. It is understandable because we ourselves are frustrated when things don’t work out for us,” he remarked.

The Athletic Club footballer acknowledged that he had “doubts” about his physical condition to play against Saudi Arabia, but that he feels “physically well.” “In the 80th minute of the game against Cape Verde I had a blow that hurt me and I had many doubts for the next game. In the end I was able to train with the team, this week I have done the same, I have been able to complete all the training sessions and I am fine,” he said.

Regarding Nico Williams and his physical condition, he recalled that “he himself has stated that it has been a difficult season for him, both at the club and here.” “He has missed many games, but if he is here it is for a reason. He is training very hard every day and in fact it seems that he is doing better. It is never easy to come back from an injury like his and relapse, but he is gaining confidence, rhythm and I am sure that he will help us for the next games,” he hoped.

As for Uruguay, Laporte spoke about Marcelo Bielsa, with whom he met at Athletic Club. “He is a well-known public person. He made my debut and we met again later in England. We spoke several times and I only have words of gratitude and good words for him now,” he confessed.

Regarding the two-time world champion, he clarified that they still have “a few days left to examine her in more depth.” “The most important thing for us is to play our football, the one we know how to play. We know that they are playing everything in this game as well, so we will see how they turn out, but having the weapons we have, I think we have to focus on ourselves and not so much on them,” he stated.

“We are clear that they are going to go ‘full’, as it would be if we were in their position because I imagine that is normal for a team that wants or aspires to go through the group stage, but we depend on ourselves and we know what we have to do. We have a lot of ambition to finish first and we are going to go for it,” the international stressed.

And the game could be key to being first in the group and in theory having an easier match, although the Spanish-French does not hide that the qualifying table “also changes after each game.” “We are seeing that every 15 hours is perhaps different, but we know that our idea is to finish first and we do not play a game to lose or draw. What it may or may not be, also depends on other teams and not so much on ours. It does not matter who faces us next, we will try to be equally prepared,” he concluded.

Finally, Laporte did warn that the teams that “lock themselves in behind” choke “a little bit more”, although he also does not forget that the ‘Red’ has “an incredible number of 33 games without losing.” “And they have played us in every possible way, so it depends a lot on us, on how we are on the day and if we have it, it is very difficult for an opposing team to beat us easily,” he said.