The Spanish coach “defends” his players against praise

The Spanish coach Luis de la Fuente has dismissed comparisons with the “Golden Generation” that won the Euro and World Cup titles, while emphasizing his team’s focus on the current tournament.

Spain is one of the few teams to have progressed beyond the group stage of Euro 2024, considered a well-deserved reward for their excellent performances in this tournament. Their strong results, combined with a diverse playing style, have earned La Roja considerable praise and drawn comparisons to the 2008 “Golden Generation,” which went on to win both the Euro and World Cup.

However, current the Spanish coach Luis de la Fuente has rejected such comparisons, asserting that his team has not achieved any significant achievements yet.

Speaking ahead of the match against Albania, the 63-year-old coach said, “We still have a long way to catch up with the national team you mentioned because they won the Euros. We need to improve in every aspect. This may sound negative, but we must continue to improve. That’s our daily goal. The good news is that there are plenty of areas to improve, potentially limitless or with limits. That makes us feel very optimistic.”

He also emphasized his team’s singular focus on winning, stating, “We are only concentrating on winning because we want to win every game. We want to field the lineup that we believe is the best. We have complete confidence in the 26 players here. Everyone has the opportunity to perform at a high level, so I am very confident about that.”

Additionally, Fuente suggested that the tournament’s top teams will soon rediscover their form and showcase their true capabilities. He added, “I don’t think we have seen the true quality of some teams yet. Some teams have been strong contenders right from the start, while others, who could be considered top contenders or competitive opponents, have not fully shown their potential.”

Spain will face Albania in their final group-stage match, scheduled at 8:00 PM (UK time) on June 24.