Luis de la Fuente: 'Raul Asencio is a true professional'
Spain coach Luis de la Fuente began the press conference by thanking the Valencia fans for their warm reception: “I wanted to thank all the fans in Valencia, the whole city of Valencia. The reception has been spectacular. We are sure that tomorrow there will be an atmosphere to remember. Thank you, Valencia.” He confirmed that both Le Normand and Morata are recovered and ready to play.
On the striker debate, he stated: “I don’t like the term ‘false nine’. We always play with a centre-forward; we don’t have much that’s false about us. Oyarzabal can play there, Dani Olmo too, Merino has played as a ‘10’… we’ll choose the best eleven from a group of fantastic players for this very difficult match.”
He praised Raul Asencio’s professionalism, saying: “This is a squad of fantastic players, and we manage it like any team. Three players have to be left out, and Raúl understood it perfectly. Everyone accepts it naturally with camaraderie, which is vital for me.”
De la Fuente emphasized that the team comes first: “No one is indispensable. What matters is the team. The fundamental thing is commitment and solidarity. The team knows this, and that’s what matters most. I’m rarely wrong because they are so good. It’s hard to go wrong with these players. I always say you need good people to manage a locker room. Suffering and overcoming challenges is something this team has. I don’t know this sport without suffering. It’s healthy for sport and any activity.”
He acknowledged the work of Spain's youth system, stating: “For many, Huijsen’s emergence might be a surprise, but he’s been with us for some time, with Santi Denia in the U21s. Many of the surprises you mention are not surprises to us. We know the talent we have in this country. Spanish football is an endless source of talent.”
Finally, De la Fuente talked about the team's ambition: “The problem with winning is that you get used to it, and it’s hard to lose your edge. We want to stay in that dynamic, knowing that the challenges are getting harder. Rivals are getting to know us better and are very good. This is difficult, and it’s only getting harder.”
