“The family is growing and we must recognize the potential of many players”

The national men’s soccer coach, Luis de la Fuente, highlighted that “the family grows” and that this forces them to give “recognition and opportunities” to new soccer players who appear, such as the cases of young Marc Casadó and Samu Omorodion. , who are now going to be “in the spotlight”, but who he sees as “prepared” for the increased demands that they are going to experience in the European champion.

“The family grows and we have to incorporate new elements, now is the time to give the opportunity and recognition to players who are earning it and our gaze must also be further afield. We have to recognize the football potential of many players and see them compete at the same time.” level as the national team is,” De la Fuente said at a press conference this Friday after giving the squad list for the matches against Denmark and Switzerland in the Nations League.

One of the novelties is that of FC Barcelona midfielder Marc Casadó, who reaches the Absolute team “thanks to his ability, confidence, determination, professionalism and talent.” “He is very good. Young people need that demand to get the best out of themselves, if they had not put him to that maximum demand we would not have valued his ability so much,” he remarked.

For the Riojan, the Catalan player “is a very clear case” of how “the great professionals show their best face in the face of the greatest challenges”, and he assured both he and Samu Omorodion, another of the great novelties, “have a lot to say and to improve”. “Now they are going to be in the spotlight and we are going to demand more from them, but they are prepared,” he warned.

“Samu is a 20-year-old boy with potential who has burst into Portugal and has attracted attention, but now we have to maintain this over time and give it continuity, also for him to get used to playing with that pressure. Now it’s up to him to continue insisting and do things even better,” he explained of the 20-year-old footballer from Porto.

De la Fuente made it clear that they need “footballers with that profile and very good ones because the demands are increasingly higher.” “Samu has the potential to be a very good forward, I hope he maintains everything he aims for over time. Here we seek to have forwards with different characteristics and he plays well with his back, he is very powerful in transitions and a very good finisher, it is a profile “It adapts very well to our idea of ​​football,” he analyzed from Melilla.

The coach also celebrated that the third newcomer, center back Aitor Paredes, is having “a fantastic campaign” at Athletic Club where he is partnered with fellow international Dani Vivian. “For our style they develop it in a fantastic way,” he noted.

“Álvaro is fine. He received a significant and strong blow, but according to the tests he has no problem. We must comply with the protocol, but under normal conditions he could play the first game and the second for sure,” reported the one from Haro about Morata, hospitalized this Thursday after a blow to the head during AC Milan training.

Regarding Pau Cubarsí, he confirmed that he is out due to the “very important and deep wound” he sustained on his face in last Wednesday’s clash against Red Star. “It wasn’t worth it for him to come, we have always said that we take care of the athlete’s health and he has to have a few days until it is closed,” he said.

He also spoke about Robin Le Normand, who “is progressing very well” from the head trauma with subdural hematoma, “a very serious blow”, which occurred in the last derby at the end of September. “We have to follow all the protocols, but, knowing him, he will surely speed up the process. But neither his club nor we are going to rush him any further so that he recovers with total and absolute guarantee,” he stressed.

Likewise, he stated that the evolution of Pablo Martín, ‘Gavi’, is “exceptional” after returning to play after his serious knee injury in November 2023. “He is all energy and character, which often has to do with it, but We have to be very cautious and meet the deadlines naturally. We are looking forward to having him with us again because he is very important for the national team,” he hoped.

“WE CAN PULL FROM OTHER EXCEPTIONAL PLAYERS”

De la Fuente stressed that they do not look at “the origin” of the footballers given the emergence of young people in FC Barcelona. “We only value good footballers and Barça and many clubs are doing an exceptional job. It is about giving opportunities to talented, young and capable people who never fail, it is definitive to give opportunities to show that they are very good,” he said.

On the list, there are many footballers who play outside of Spain, something that the ‘Roja’ coach values ​​positively. “I have an exceptional work group and we control more than 70 players from all the leagues who may be called up. We move punctually to see something very significant, we have high quality tools to see the footballers. Of course I prefer that they play in the Spanish league, but playing outside enriches you in another way and makes you more complete, makes you mature and value many more aspects,” he said.

Asked about the impact of the losses of Dani Carvajal and Rodri Hernández in comparison with what Real Madrid and Manchester City are accusing him of, the Riojan recalled that both “are irreplaceable” and that “they always leave a wound in the team that suffers their casualties”. “We are privileged because we can use other exceptional players and we are more than covered, but it can also take its toll on us because they are very important players,” he said.

De la Fuente avoided commenting on his contract with the Royal Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) and warned that it seemed “frivolous” considering the situation in Spain with the DANA. “The times have to happen, there must be stability and there must be elections. Surely everything will be resolved later, I am happy and content, I cannot ask for more, I am privileged, but now is not the right time to talk about this,” he concluded. .

Finally, the coach did not give importance to not having been chosen ‘Best Coach’ at the Ballon d’Or Gala. “It was a great night for Spanish football. Ancelotti is almost half Spanish and he deserved it,” he expressed with a smile. “Just by being nominated I felt like a winner, I enjoyed it a lot, I felt recognized, loved and valued,” he stated.