Ahead of Spain’s upcoming FIFA World Cup European Qualifier against Bulgaria, national team head coach Luis de la Fuente attended a press conference and addressed various topics regarding the team.
You didn’t make any substitutions in the two matches last month. Will you make adjustments for tomorrow’s game?
These players give me full confidence, and facts have proven that each of them is highly capable. We will first assess the physical condition of the players who played last Saturday. I already have a preliminary idea about the squad arrangement, but in the end, we will field a team that is most reliable and can perform at its best—because we also need to go all out for tomorrow’s game.
Bulgaria is currently at the bottom of the group. How much impact will this have on your preparation strategy?
Opponents will not give up easily, and we will not take the game lightly. We are eager for victory, the team is in high spirits, and we will send out a suitable lineup to compete with all our strength. I think this national team is very appealing; you can see people wearing Spain jerseys everywhere on the streets, and the atmosphere at the venue will definitely be very lively.
Do you think some people believe that players should withdraw from the training camp as long as they feel unwell?
We have invested a lot of time and energy in ensuring players’ health. Currently, there are some special circumstances that have forced some players to leave the team. Players get injured every round of La Liga, and I don’t understand why injuries to players in the national team are overly focused on—this is actually very common in football matches.
Do you think there is a situation where players value club interests more?
There is absolutely no such situation, as you can tell from the reactions of the players who were not selected and their clubs. The players themselves know that being selected for the national team is a qualitative leap; after joining the national team, their personal value will be greatly enhanced. As for physical discomfort and injuries, that’s a different matter. When there are doubts, we always put the players’ health first.
Gavi was injured in the match against Valladolid. Was that the worst day of your career?
Fortunately, he has overcome the injury. Although Gavi is now troubled by injuries again, that incident is in the past. However, injuries are inevitable in sports. It was a very difficult time for him personally, and considering his significance to the team and me. But such trials will make people stronger; hardships are part of life and sports. When Gavi recovers, he will return to us.
What is Ferran’s current situation?
I suggest you refer to the reports from Barcelona and the Royal Spanish Football Federation. He is not injured, just feeling a bit unwell. We need players who are in full health, and Ferran is not in his best condition right now, so he was removed from the squad. He will definitely be an important member of our team in the future. Maybe he can return to his best form by Wednesday, but he won’t be ready for tomorrow’s game.
Spain’s last defeat was against Scotland. Do you still remember that game?
What impact did that loss have on the team?It was a painful experience, but it also made us stronger. It’s like we are building a building around a concept; sometimes there will be problems with a partition wall, and we just replace it. Sometimes, such setbacks in life can inspire us to have greater motivation.
Omorodion has only played one hour since being selected for the national team. What is he lacking?
It’s not easy to secure a firm spot in the national team. Omorodion is not worse than other players, but in our current game plan, we prioritize other players. He will definitely play an important role in the future, and that future may come soon—he has great potential.
How are Pedri and Zubimendi doing?
We will monitor the form of all players. Some recover quickly, while others recover slowly, but we want to field a starting lineup that is most likely to win, which is not easy. Players in October won’t think about what will happen next June; they know their current tasks clearly. They want to play well and become players the country can rely on in the future, but they won’t think about things in June.
Will there be a change in the goalkeeper position?
We will not compromise in this regard. It’s okay if Robert Sánchez or Unai Simón plays, but tomorrow’s game is not insignificant. We have a responsibility to compete for qualification.
If you don’t lose this game, you will equal the team’s historical record of 29 consecutive unbeaten matches set by the Spain team led by Vicente del Bosque. What do you think about this?We are different teams in different eras. It’s not easy to maintain such records. I have never talked to the players about what tomorrow’s victory will mean, because what we care about is securing a World Cup qualification spot. But our principle has always been to be down-to-earth and take one game at a time. We want to strive for victory in every competition, and this is still our mindset now. We want to continue making progress—this is our core idea, and we hope we can perform better tomorrow.
Is there a designated penalty taker in the team?
We have several top penalty takers. Who will take the penalty depends on the specific situation, and we are confident. Taking a penalty is a very special action, which depends on the player’s state at that time.
