De la Fuente: “It has been proven that Gavi’s injury was an accident”

How did this Nico Williams-Lamine tandem manage, with all the summer media boom?

This is a joy and good news for Spanish football. And for the generations we talked about before, who got to know and become loyal to the national team through these players. It was an impulse, a blow, but not only to them. With Fermín, with Gavi at the time, with these young footballers who appear to be bringing another group of fans to the national team, to the feeling, to football, and it’s incredible. But of course you have to be very high with them, because they have that part of vitality, energy, unconsciousness… They have to understand that there is a big responsibility. They need to understand that and burn it into their skin because they need to be good professionals. All this should be explained in a different way than to a more mature player. You have to pull a little bit and let go, pull and let go… but the truth is we’re lucky because these footballers are great to work with. They are very good.

Another proper name: Pedri. He may have little, but it gave him full confidence from the first moment.

He is one of my project footballers. The type of footballer who made his debut for me when I was young in the U-21. He is the type of footballer who gets your attention, also special. It causes me a lot of pain when good players have injuries, they suffer setbacks, setbacks that slow down their development and Pedri suffered a lot. But I think in the long run he will realize that it has helped him become an adult, to become a better professional every day, to become a footballer who enjoys every moment more. It will make him a better player and person.

Speaking of injuries, the calendar is now being criticized. The other day, Flick said “I regret not calling the U-21 coach to not call Fermín because he was later injured.” Do you talk to the coaches?

My phone is open for any reflection with any coach. But it’s also true that no one puts themselves in the role of coach, no one. If I had 80 games to measure a footballer, I would measure him. The tricky thing is to measure a footballer you have on average one game a month. That’s not any overload. Of course, when he has played 70 games, but we can hardly afford it. We always prioritize how they got to health and the number of circumstances that you don’t know, because these are private things and they are decisions that are made sometimes. “Why didn’t you send for So-and-So?” Well, many times there is no need to give explanations and in those cases he will definitely be taken care of, take care of him. It is very difficult to understand the selectors and put yourself in our role. We have a big responsibility, we are the representation of a country and the demands of our matches are all the highest responsibility and we always put something at stake. There are no friendly matches here.

In the case of Gavi, it is true that in Barcelona there is a lot of criticism for that injury. Did you feel special at that moment?

No, it was mentioned, but it bothers me that people took advantage of that situation which proved to be an accident, the same thing that unfortunately happens nowadays with the injuries of Rodrigo, Carvajal or Ter Stegen. No need to look for those responsible, this is football. And it is true that we must always ensure the health of the football player. And find the tools to make the footballer more secure. As? Well, with fewer games. But let’s sit down, as the football world feels, with footballers and clubs to assess whether we should play fewer games. What is not worth it is not saying anything at the time of making the calendar. Everyone must agree. We must find the balance between the economic side and the health of the football player, which must always come first. But the national team is a victim of that. And abused, of course. We all think about the clubs, but the national team also has a very important role, because it highlights the clubs. And I tell you, from my experience, that clubs are interested in footballers who are in the national team. The more international players they have, the more value.

Now he talks about the losses of Carvajal and Rodri. It’s clear what they give on the field, but how can you reward the contribution of two captains off the field?

First say that they are irreplaceable. But it has to be done and there are other very good players. Fortunately, we are lucky to be in Spanish football, with exceptional footballers. I also always say that we have the best midfielder in the world Rodrigo, but we also have the second best in the world, Martín Zubimendi. In the same way that Dani Carvajal is in the best moment of his career from my point of view, as the best full-back in the world, but we have other players who will not be at his level, and they don’t have to either worry about that, but they have shown that they are very good. I also gave an example the other day that he wouldn’t be Rodrigo today if he wasn’t in the shadow of Sergio Busquets, who is the best in the world. He had to assume that role, have that opportunity and he has proven it. Certainly now, taking advantage of those dramatic and painful events that are injuries, football offers you the possibility of another player to claim his ability and potential.