The coach assures in his presentation that “all players have the doors of the national team open” and confirms that he has no “dizziness” before entering a dressing room with 26 stars
Calm, educated, smiling, friendly and striving to convey closeness, not fake at all but full of naturalness, Luis de la Fuente this Monday drew the first sketch of a team inherited from Luis Enrique after the World Cup fiasco and that he plan is to improve his way, adapted to an idea of football that is rooted in young talent and also in seniority, a mix that convinces him and that will guide him in drawing up future lists. He did so during his presentation ceremony as the new head of La Roja, accompanied by the president of the federation, Luis Rubiales, and the director of the absolute, Albert Luque, who have ensured that the coach of the sub’21 until now has been his bet from the moment it was decided to end the relationship with the Asturian. “I am a defender of talent,” said De la Fuente emphatically, who has repeated more than once that the doors of the national team are open to everyone. “No one has closed them,” he stressed ahead of recurring questions about the hypothetical return of Sergio Ramos and other “sacred cows.”
The new coach has been extremely elegant with Luis Enrique, whom he spoke of only in terms of respect and recognition of the “work” developed. “Our relationship has been fantastic and close. We exchanged messages and he congratulated me on the appointment,” he said when asked if the Asturian had contacted him after leaving La Roja. Qatar is already history for Spain, eliminated in the round of 16, and De la Fuente only knows what is to come. “A new phase begins. All players are eligible for selection. We are now going to work and collect information, assess it. The doors are open to everyone”, he is not tired of repeating the names of the likes of Ramos, Aspas, Busquets every time he heard him… Of the latter, he has commented that he is the “living history of football, with present and future, and he has a lot to say”, has he slipped up on the midfielder’s international status.
He was prepared to defend his choice, aware that his lack of coaching experience at elite clubs could come to the fore at any time. “I’m going to expand here,” he emphasized, cautiously showing his resume. «I have been a professional for 15 years, 13 of them in the First Division, I have won titles, leagues, cups, super cups… I was international, except in the absolute, also a coach, delegate. I’ve been in the Federation for ten years – he was in charge of the sub 16, 18, 19, 21 and 23 -, I competed in the Olympics – he won silver in Tokyo – and I’ve played with 16 of the 26 footballers who went to this World Cup, eight of them starters in the final line-up. If there is anyone who knows Spanish football – here he brought out his personality and character, without losing his smile – it is this man sitting here,” he said to himself. “With this baggage I present myself.”
Despite the use of merit arguments, De la Fuente has insisted that he must now manage the best of a country. “I don’t have vertigo,” he said. And he added: “I’ve lived with 26 stars in the sub’19, in the sub’21, with 25 Olympic stars. I know how the players think. If you look into their eyes, they know a footballer is doing it. There will be no problem. I like to talk to their faces. I’ve been there (in their place) and I know how they feel. I only ask for time so that they let me record what I want to demonstrate, ”argued the man from La Rioja. How do you want your Spain to be? «What is non-negotiable is the model, what adapts is the system. I will include concepts, nuances to enrich the football we have. We are not closed to anything ». In this sense, and broadly speaking, he has put forward that he likes to “dominate, reinforce individualities, encounter spaces, form a complete team”.
De la Fuente has defended with conviction the footballer’s “freedom”, the need for him to develop his imagination without barriers or obstacles. “I am a defender of talent, who must help the collective. I don’t like to limit a player’s virtues, on the contrary, I will try to create situations so that they can show their full potential. I’m talking about the freedom dedicated to the team, to get the best out of every footballer. About the World Cup, about the Spanish disappointment, he has avoided, because he only looks ahead. His first commitments are against Norway and Scotland in March, framed in the qualifying phase for Euro 2024. “That’s what worries me the most right now. The ceiling of the selection? I am optimistic. I think we are capable of winning everyone. The ceiling is to reach the top ».
The man from La Rioja has clarified that his calls will revolve around three non-negotiable premises: “Talent, quality and performance.” At this point, he has made it known that he is a “fan of veteran footballers” and will never look at the “identity card” when making a list, a premise that naturally applies to young people. Of course, he stressed that he will always take those who are “better for a particular party.” In terms of the support he expects to receive, De la Fuente has been very graphic. «In Spain there are not 48 million coaches. What I want is for there to be 48 million players, for them to put on a shirt and for us to be a team.”
Source: La Verdad
I am Shawn Partain, a journalist and content creator working for the Today Times Live. I specialize in sports journalism, writing articles that cover major sporting events and news stories. With a passion for storytelling and an eye for detail, I strive to be accurate and insightful in my work.
