Luis de la Fuente, the Under-21 coach, spoke at the press conference prior to this Thursday's match (7pm, Four) against the Faroe Islands.
Physical level: “They are all well, they have trained very well. The physical state is perfect ”.
Pedri, most important role and in which demarcation do you see it: “Regardless of when your role comes out, it's very important. You don't have to participate from the beginning to be more or less important. He is an attacking player, he is very versatile. It can occupy any position on the most forward line. You will have the possibility of playing in different positions depending on the players we have and the utility we want to give you. He is very versatile and can give us a lot in any of those positions ”.
If it hurts them for the Eurocup to have had inferior rivals: “We are in a similar position to the other teams. If there has been no possibility of playing more games, it is because of this situation. I'm quiet. Where they go to compete and prepare is in their clubs. What interests me is that they play for their clubs. I don't care about that. I trust them, there is potential. They are competing, maturing. When we face the rivals in the European Championship I am convinced that they are going to give a great version ”.
An improved Brahim in Italy: “We are privileged to have lived with these players from an early age. Evolution is very important, personally and professionally. He has been to City, Madrid and Milan, where it is difficult to gain a foothold. Now it is beginning to have a different role because it is evolving. As long as you have continuity and you bet on him, you can show how great a player you are. It is a maxim at these ages, they lack competition time. When someone bets on them they show great potential. When Brahim comes he is excited, wanting to demonstrate and claim and that for us is very good ”.
Homework to do: “What we want is to win, to finish accordingly. We want to grow with the victory, leave this aftertaste in order to have that good feeling in March. We want them to feel important, to continue living together. I want the group spirit to last between now and March. We have seen in these three months a great improvement, which has increased that feeling. In my way of understanding football, it is something that I value a lot, that feeling of team and group. We are growing and performance improves ”.
Efficiency facing goal: “There is always a great room for improvement, we have to improve a lot. The important thing is that we can do it because there is talent, commitment and desire to do it. In the scoring side we have to improve, we are on the way. We would love for these players to have more minutes on their teams, but we are convinced that they will give what we ask of them. They will give performance. We are sure”.
Zubieta above Lezama: “Both Real Sociedad and Athletic are great representatives of training work. In Lezama we live only from grassroots football, to attract players in that process and train them. La Real have always had it, there have always been fantastic teams. Likewise Athletic. They are cycles, generations that appear. Right now it is true that the Real has an extraordinary generation. But in Athletic, it is certain that in a short time players of great talent will appear again. Athletic has always reinvented itself ”.
Demarcations you are concerned about: “In the end what we try is to form a group of players that has continuity in their clubs. In some demarcations this process does not take place. Read center forwards or goalkeepers. There are demarcations that have less continuity. They are the ones that concern us in the entire technical organization of the Federation. We pull what is in the clubs. The growth of the footballer like this is more difficult. We give these players opportunities to claim their quality in this scenario ”.
Brahim leader: “He has the chance to develop his potential at Milan, it makes sense when he is given opportunities. He is at an age of greater maturity at all levels ”.
Juande, Ismael Casas and Ramón Enrique, from Málaga: “They are three players that we know well, they have been in different stages in the Federation. They have a very good level. We follow them and we control them. The doors of the National Team are open. They will surely have their chance if they continue to work with that ambition and professionalism. What happens is that there are very good footballers and some have to be left out. We know them very well ”.
Concern for March: “I am concerned that in March they will all be healthy. We are living a very tough situation. If we add COVID to physical problems … even worse. Of these 23 and some who have not come but have been, the list of 23 will come out. I am concerned that they will grow and have continuity in their clubs ”.
Talk to Ansu: “I have not spoken with him, I have sent him messages to encourage him and wish him a speedy recovery. I wish you a quick recovery. I'm sure it will come out stronger. This experience must serve him for what we have when there is health. He is sure to recover sooner than expected, he has a phenomenal constitution. You don't have to put pressure on him and let him recover calmly, within the deadlines that he has to recover ”.
Fixed place of concentration of the inferiors on the Costa del Sol: “I do not know that detail, I could not say anything. But it would be ideal. It is a fantastic place ”.