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A different touch
Confirm Luis de la Fuente, coach of SpainHis country’s national team is progressing after reaching the semi-finals of the 2026 World Cup.
De La Fuente said. At the press conference after the quarter-final match against Belgium“I take back my pride in leading this team that strives to grow and improve. We gave more than enough to win with a more comfortable appearance, but we have to accept how difficult it is to win.”
Regarding the inclusion of Fabian instead of Pedri, the Matador coach said that Fabian is training very well, as is Pedri, but both are capable of playing. He continued. “We were looking to add a different tone. Fabian has more control over the game and he is different from Pedri. We realized that’s what we need, which is to make more attacking runs, and then we’ll leave Pedri in the finals, taking advantage of his vitality and vision.”
Regarding the changes he is making to the squad, De La Fuente emphasized that each player has their special time, explaining: “We don’t care if you start or play five minutes, everyone is equally important. They appreciate my composure, and if they see me lose control, it would be surprising to them.”
“Pedry’s inclusion can only be explained by the desire to add spark and vitality to the team. Fabian is another great player and we felt Pedri could benefit from that clarity. It’s a team effort and who starts the match is not more important than who plays as a substitute.”
As for Spain’s next steps in the tournament, De La Fuente expressed his desire to continue, saying:
Assessing his level of development as a coach, he noted that he did not feel he was any more advanced than he was at the European Nations Cup, commenting:
When asked how much he is concerned about possible signs of dissatisfaction of the players who are not participating, the coach answered. “This will be bad news. We select the best players in the world, but we also select the best people who make it easy to live together. If you get it wrong, problems can occur. with respect.”
De La Fuente concluded his remarks by praising goalkeeper Unai Simon, saying: “I celebrate the historic achievement of this record. It will take many World Cups or decades before it is surpassed. It surpasses everything in life, but this matter takes many years.”
