On the eve of the upcoming UEFA Nations League match at home against Serbia, Spanish goalkeeper David Raya attended the pre-match conference along with manager De La Fuente. Raya shared his passion for soccer, his thoughts on the current state of the team, and his preparations for the upcoming match.
Raya said that despite having traveled to England to play since he was 16 years old, his passion for soccer and for doing what he loves has never changed, and even feels more passionate now. He confessed that this is the first time he has played so many games in a row with the national team and is at a moment of peak form with the team and emphasized that the team is helping the team to win. Regarding the possible future competition for the goalkeeper position with Unai Simon, Raya said that he is not aware of it, but that he is here to win and wants to make the choice difficult for the coach. However, he is more focused on the upcoming matches and believes that is what matters most.
Speaking about manager De La Fuente, Raya believes that although it's not his job to talk about contractual issues, De La Fuente has done an impeccable job since he took over, with the team winning the UEFA Europa League and Europa League titles, and he deserves to be rewarded for his work. On the abilities needed for the goalkeeper position, Raya believes that soccer is constantly evolving and changing, goalkeepers need different abilities than they did 20 years ago and need to have the mentality to be able to adapt and improve themselves. While footwork is important, it is not fundamental to being in a strong team.
In addition, Raya spoke about the situation of young player Yamal, saying that he understands the various comparisons that have been made to him, but sees no need to compare him to anyone. He emphasized that Yamal is an outstanding player and should be allowed to enjoy soccer and put down solid roots. On the situation of multiple injuries in the national team, Raya said it was very unfortunate, but believes that the coach is fortunate to have a marvelous team and that everyone gets along well.
Speaking about Spain's rivalry between Real Madrid and Barcelona, Raya said he wasn't aware of Mbappe's situation, but was aware of the situation that Yamal was experiencing and thought the coaching staff had made the most sensible move by sending him back to Barcelona for treatment. On the question of whether England have more respect for the national team, Raya said he wasn't aware of the situation within the England team, but believes the pressure on them is the same as any other national team.
Finally, Raya spoke about upcoming opponent Serbia, saying that they are a very physical team and set-pieces could be an important part of their offense. He reminded his team that they have to be wary of set-pieces as it could change the course of the game. At the same time, he also said that there are indeed a lot of matches, but the schedule is what it is and the team must give their best to take the matches. Raya emphasized that a positive mindset is the key to achieving goals and that one needs to work hard every day to achieve the goals set.
