Koke does not want the euphoria to take over the Spanish team. After beating Slovakia, the midfielder indicated that Spain must play at the same level against Croatia as they have shown in the group stage.
“We have to be calm with which we have been playing the entire tournament. We have the motivation and the desire of the first day. No kind of euphoria. We would have preferred to go first but that's how football is. Sometimes the results don't come. Maximum illusion for tomorrow's game ”.
Koke acknowledged that he always saw himself in the national team despite not being called up. “I haven't been here for two years and it was a difficult time. He always saw me being here. I've been meeting the best and had come up with all of them. You always see yourself here and want to play every game. It was complicated and if they told me a year ago that I would be here I would not have imagined it. Being here is spectacular and that helps you appreciate it, ”he said.
The Atlético player showed his ambition to win the Eurocup. “Whenever you go with the national team to play this type of tournament, you want to win. I always want to win and be among the best and hopefully we can achieve it. Hopefully this is the tournament we can get. You have to take care of all kinds of details, ”he said.
Koke revealed that Luis Enrique “asks us for certain details of how to play and we have to adapt as quickly as possible to add. Regardless of who plays, be it me or another player, we have very mechanized movements in the preparation time of these weeks ”.
Koke was not worried about having missed the two penalties that Spain has had. “We are rehearsing penalties every day. We have not had fortune in the last two but hopefully tomorrow we have one and the coach decides who launches it. We have players with quality and personality to launch them. I worry zero. Surely if we have one we are going to mark it ”.
Support for Morata
Koke wrapped up Morata after being threatened. “We are exposed to all kinds of criticism, we accept them, but threats, whether it be to the player or family, we do not accept them. We are all responsible for our actions and we have to be aware of what we do. All types of harassment must be reported. The people who can make these kinds of comments do not enter my head. Not only the player, who you wear because you are exposed, but family and friends is already going overboard ”.
“That he is focused on what he has to be. Is not easy. I gave him a very strong hug, I love him very much, he is a friend. I played with him as a child, now in the absolute, at Atleti … he is my friend and I gave him a very strong hug and a lot of encouragement. Because it is not easy to be in your situation and your skin. When we are together to be normal, to make jokes, that he is always laughing, and to divert the subject a little ”, he added.
Praise to Pedri and Busquets
Koke distributed praise to Pedri and Busquets. Regarding the canary, he acknowledged that “he is surprised by his maturity. Being a starter at Barça and National Team, where there is a lot of level, that is surprising. He has a lot of quality, he shows it every day, and it will be very important. It is the present and future of Spain and I hope it can give us many joys “
About Busquets, he assured that “we all know him. Only what his presence implies for what he is, he has done, how he plays and positions himself, it is wonderful to be able to play alongside him. He has always been at a very high level and now as captain he is always adding: It is fundamental. It was clear that we were going to wait for it and for something it has been like that. In the last one he participated and his presence is fundamental ”.
Koke also spoke of Modric: “He has done great things with Real Madrid and his national team. It's going to be a nice battle in the center of the field. I always like to play against the best and Luka is one of them. Sometimes he has won and others I. Hopefully tomorrow Spain and Koke win. It is what we all want, for Spain to win and it is the most important thing ”.
Regarding the absence of Perisic, he assured that “it is a significant loss. He has been playing at a high level for many years. Surely any of their players will be able to supply it well. Eleven players play. It is not a definitive loss ”.