Luis de la Fuente, the Spanish U21 soccer coach, assured that the semi-final match of the European of the category that will pit you against Portugal this Thursday (18:00) will be “a very open game” in which he does not see favorites; and he sent a message that he wants to “stop” how it is that “they are themselves”.
“I think it is going to be very open. The message that I want to send and that will stick with my team is that we have to be ourselves. We have always had the personality to try to impose ourselves with our idea of football. Of course we want to minimize the virtues of the rival, and that happens by making us strong in what we do, ”he said when asked by EFE.
“We have similarities in the style of play and it can condition the match. The initiative must be fought, we want to take the initiative. We are faithful to the idea that we have, we can modify players who make the development of that system a little different and that is what we are going to pretend; always keeping our style. This is not the time to change many things, “he added.
A Luis de la Fuente who pondered the defensive level of the team, with only one goal conceded in four games of the European Under-21, although he warned that everything can change in a single encounter and throw everything to the ground.
“That makes us strong and we start to generate the game and the attack based on defensive strength. We also like to defend with the ball. What we do not want is for Portugal to take the lead more than us and we would like to be able to dominate the match. Of course, it is going to be a goal game and maybe it can blow up all those defensive numbers, “he declared.
He also trusted that his team would solve the problems in front of goal, which he has had since this cycle started, on a key day: “Our team generates chances and we have depth with high quality wingers. The only thing that we have lacked is the finishing touch, completion. The rest, in terms of arrival and game development, we do. We lack forcefulness and aggressiveness in the final meters, but I am sure that in the decisive moments the team will give it ”.
In addition, the Spanish U21 coach praised the attitude of his team after winning at Croatia in extra time after conceding the tying goal in the last minute of regulation time.
“Oddly enough, it is a great pleasure to even have the possibility of suffering and leading the team in those situations. It is good to learn to suffer and understand that in football results are obtained based on sacrifice. We will try to suffer less (laughs), but against Portugal suffering is guaranteed; and we are prepared to bear it ”, assured the coach, who has not known defeat for 18 games.