Luis de la Fuente announced the list for the qualifying matches for the Eurocup that Spain Under-21 will play against the Faroe Islands and Israel. La Rojita is already mathematically classified, so these matches will serve for the coach to try out for the European Championship that will be played from March in Hungary and Slovenia.
There are some novelties, such as the return of Manu García, although the general trend is one of continuity with respect to the October list. Among the absences stands out that of Riqui Puig, starter in the last two games of La Rojita, but that falls due to the lack of minutes in Barcelona. The same happens to Aleñà.
Who is here is Brahim, who with his good season at Milan has regained his leading role in the National Team. Spain will focus on Marbella, where it will play both games. The first will be on Thursday, November 12 against the Faroe Islands (19:00, Four) and the second on Tuesday 17 against Israel (18:45, Four).
This is the full list:
Goalkeepers: Josep Martínez, Álvaro Fernández and Iñaki Peña.
Defenses: Porro, Pozo, Manu Hernando, Guillamón, Clemente, Cuenca, Cucurella and Pedrosa.
Midfielders: Zubimendi, Moncayola, Óscar Rodríguez, Beltrán, Manu García and Pedri.
Forwards: Brahim, Barrenetxea, Puado, Bryan Gil, Dani Gómez and Roberto López.
Luis de la Fuente: “There are no awards, they all made merits”
Luis de la Fuente, U21 coach, assessed the call in a press conference.
Riqui Puig: “The absence of him and others who could be … Riqui is very important, we have him, but we want to see others who are having more minutes. It is still very important. You will ask me about others, but I anticipate that we have all those who have been and others who have not yet come. But between now and March we take him and others into account ”.
Take in March the U21 of the Absolute: “We have not discussed the issue. They are within the structure of the Federation. In due course it will be thought what is the most appropriate. The important thing is their great work, they are growing. We have to celebrate it. I don't care about that detail. When the time comes, we will take the appropriate action. Now I am more concerned about seeing other players we do not know. I am worried about not having another call to give that time to those guys who are earning it ”.
Pedri and the Absolute: “You tell Luis if he wants to summon one or the other. What I say is speculation. He is doing a great job, he is recognized despite his youth. If you continue to progress, you will have the doors open to the Absolute and to any objective. Now enjoy him and give him the opportunity to continue growing so young ”.
Pedri as a player and as a person: “As a footballer, the highest quality in a club like Barça. He already showed it in Las Palmas. He is taking advantage of opportunities and we are surprised by his maturity despite his youth. It shows maturity off the field and moves it inside. That gives him the options to perform very well and to play with total ease despite his youth ”.
Kepa's mental maturity: “He is a boy who is already in the Absolute. He is a great goalkeeper. They have to know how to withstand that pressure and be prepared. That makes footballers able to perform more calmly. Pressure is inherent in professional development. Without pressure you could not continue to grow, it is a natural part of football ”.
Future players: “We continue to progress. We try to assemble a team based on the few opportunities we have. There are no awards, everyone has earned merit and they deserve it. There are other players who are doing well but we cannot bring everyone. No opportunity is free. We have qualification but we want to win because it is our responsibility, we want to grow from victory. This team concept is complex to achieve in such a short time. We have to consolidate it. And we want to integrate players who had not come, it is the balance we are looking for. But we don't give opportunities for giving them ”.
If you have spoken with Riqui Puig: “I have not spoken with Riqui. I think you have to be calm. I have spoken before, you know what I think of him. In moments when he had no minutes he has been and knows what I think. You have to be calm with the stigma and the value we have for you. He has to work to carve out a niche, which he is convinced of. From here I send my encouragement to him and others to keep working. “
The block is coming: “Yes. It is the last opportunity we have to consolidate that team concept for March. I wish we had another chance, but it's not going to be like that. That does not mean that the list is closed. Between now and March there will be situations that we will take into account. But we do try to give that sense of team, to close the circle ”.
Associate Pedri with a footballer: “I don't want to escape the question… Pedri has to look like Pedri. I am not very to draw similarities in the characteristics. The virtue of the great footballer is to be him, it has to be his goal. There is an advertisement for Rafa Nadal, who is my idol. That tells a child not to look like Rafa Nadal, but to be himself. Pedri would be wrong trying to emulate someone. It must develop its potential and become strong ”.
Bryan Gil and Óscar Rodríguez: “It is always gratifying to see that the eligible players have minutes. We seek that balance. With all due respect, Leganés is not the same as a squad like Sevilla, with such an important international level. They have to find that space because they are young. That continuity in certain clubs is not easily achieved. We celebrate Bryan, it's good that he's playing. Óscar is a player who, even if he only has a few minutes, is very important to us. This will give you more strength. When things don't go well for you, the only way is to work harder and harder ”.
Roberto López: “Roberto is a player who had been with me in the U-18. It can give us different things. He is doing well at his club, he is very young. We look for different things in a position where in Spain we don't have many opportunities to look for players, few have continuity at this age in the First Division. I know him well, I hope he responds to the demand. We are looking forward to seeing how it evolves in a new group ”.
Iñaki Peña: “He is a highly valued goalkeeper at his club, he has lived with the first team for many years being very young. It is highly valued by the staff. We fully trust him. Goalkeepers are not goalkeepers who have many minutes. But it is the reality that we live with such young players in this demarcation. Every time he has come we have seen in training that he continues to grow. He also makes a good group and contributes a lot to the daily work of the entire group ”.