As the Spanish team is about to embark on its journey to the UEFA Europa League final, team manager De la Fuente gave an exclusive interview to Marca, sharing his insights on the team's journey, his outlook for the future and his deep reflections on past experiences.
Talking about Spain's path to the final, De La Fuente said, "No one can say that Spain had an easy time getting there. From breaking out of the Group of Death, to intense encounters with strong teams such as Germany and France, until now facing England in the final, the paths have never been easy. But it is these challenges that have proved the exceptional quality of our team." He emphasized that no matter who the opponents are, the Spanish team faces tremendous pressure and challenges, but it is this perseverance and hard work in the face of adversity that makes the team more resilient.
De La Fuente appeared to be very blasé on the issue of personal recognition for his work at the grassroots level of the national team. He confessed, "My main concern is whether the players recognize me and believe that I can be a leader they can trust to lead them to important achievements. As for what the media or the public say, that's secondary." He said that he has always felt the love and importance from his players and that this trust and support is what keeps him going.
De La Fuente shows maturity and open-mindedness when talking about some of the controversial events of the past. He considers these experiences as an important learning and growing process that has made him stronger and more confident. He stated, "These experiences have helped me make decisions more confidently and now I face everything more calmly than I did a year ago."
De La Fuente is confident in his coaching abilities. He firmly believes that he is getting better every day and wants to pass this improvement on to his players. He mentioned the influence of previous coaches such as Aragonés and Bosque on him, saying that he has learned a lot of valuable experiences and lessons from them.
Speaking about the upcoming final, De La Fuente said he would downplay the drama of defeat and emphasize on enjoying the game and appreciating what was done. He told the players, "If you give your best and put in all the effort, then no matter what the result is, you can't be the loser." He encouraged the players to enjoy the stage of the final and fight for victory, but also learn to accept possible defeat.
Speaking about his last conversation with the players, De La Fuente said that he would touch on the emotional level but would also remain natural and sincere. He is well aware of the immense pressure and challenges faced by the players and will try his best to understand and support them. He emphasized, "Players are human beings and they will be under extreme pressure. We need to touch their minds, intellects and hearts to make them feel our care and support."
Finally, when asked about the game he was most proud of in this tournament, De La Fuente did not hesitate to choose the first game against Croatia. He stated, "That game was our calling card, it announced to the world that 'we are here'. It strengthened our confidence and team spirit and laid a solid foundation for the rest of our journey."
