The Spanish coach sends a “message of maximum caution” despite the great debut against Croatia
“Morata had some knocks and Rodri was tired, nothing important”
The national soccer coach, Luis de la Fuente, highlighted that Spain is “becoming a team with many records”, which knows how to adapt to the phases of each match as it did this Saturday in the 3-0 win over Croatia, a great debut in the Eurocup that does not lift their “feet off the ground”.
“Very happy, but especially for all the people who work with us. For the players, because they are a group insatiable in work, in improvement, ambitious to continue growing. But with their feet on the ground. It’s starting very well, security, morale, tranquility, but in five days we have an important match and we are already thinking about Italy,” he said at a press conference.
De la Fuente highlighted the level of Spain, knowing that against Croatia they were going to suffer too. “We played a very complete game. We interpreted the phases of the game very well. I knew we were going to have to suffer. I am very happy. We managed the game as appropriate at all times, with such a young team that knew how to maintain the type. We are turning the team into a team with many records, the rivals don’t know where we can hurt them,” he said.
The ‘Red’ coach explained that they will not get carried away by euphoria. “Part of my job is to control what happens within the concentration, and we send this message of maximum caution. We have pride, motivation, but to be better in the next game. It is the message that is getting through. We like the country to be excited , but we know a little about how we take them in Spain, and we are prone to going from euphoria to another, more unpleasant feeling. Calm is power,” he noted.
Furthermore, De la Fuente was asked about his options in the center back position, after the first game for Nacho and Le Normand. “We’ll see. I’m calm and happy about everyone’s commitment. We have a very high level in all areas. I’m very happy with the four centre-backs, be it Nacho, Laporte, Vivian or Le Normand, anyone gives me guarantees. We have a level in all exceptional positions,” he stated.
The Rioja coach also reassured the physical condition of Álvaro Morata and Rodri, who asked for a change in the second half, and highlighted Lamine Yamal’s record of precocity. “Lamine continues to break records, and continues to mature and grow in a positive way so that he can be a great footballer. Just as he said caution with the result, the same in any assessment with such a young player,” he noted.
“Álvaro had some knock and Rodri was tired, some cramp. Nothing important,” he added, before being asked about MVP Fabián. “Fabián is an exceptional player, of a very high world level. If his name were not Fabián, you would talk more about him. Those of us who see him work, know what he has. I would love for us to recognize all these footballers, a brilliant generation that has won everything,” he explained.
“We don’t think about being champions, we think about continuing to grow. For me this team is already champion. We are different teams, I hope we can achieve the successes of those teams. Everything has a path, Aragonés and Del Bosque would be in a situation like ours, we are going to continue taking steps as far as we can go, knowing that it is a very difficult path,” he concluded.