Luis de la Fuente fiercely defended his Spain players following intense media scrutiny, branding any doubts over his squad as “crazy” after a commanding 4-0 win over Saudi Arabia at the World Cup.
Spain faced a wave of criticism following a lethargic, scoreless draw against Cape Verde in their World Cup opener.
However, sparked by the return of Lamine Yamal to the starting lineup, La Roja issued a perfect response in their second Group H fixture, safely restoring faith in their title ambitions.
Speaking after the resounding victory, De la Fuente took aim at the negativity surrounding his side.
“I think it’s crazy to question this team,” the manager said. “We have been unbeaten for 33 consecutive games. You can have better days, worse days, normal days, but questioning, doubting this generation of very young footballers with a bright future, I think it’s unfair.”
De la Fuente had previously noted that his players were using the outside noise as motivation, a sentiment he strongly reiterated after watching his side dismantle Saudi Arabia.
“Nobody enjoys receiving criticism,” he said. “Their pride was hurt, of course, because this is not a reality. We can do even better than this, as we’ve shown on other occasions.
“Those remarks that they hear, of course, sometimes make them react. And that’s good because it’s a very committed, dedicated team with amazing quality.
“You are great professionals. But there are things I wouldn’t like to listen to. And that’s why I don’t listen to any programme, for example, and that’s why I try to stay positive and to isolate myself from all that noise.”
The evening also provided vindication for forward Mikel Oyarzaba who was a primary target for critics after an unhappy record of failing to touch the ball in the opening half hour against Cape Verde. Against Saudi Arabia, he responded emphatically, providing an assist and scoring twice in a lethal first-half display.
“People who know about football value him greatly,” De la Fuente said. “Unfortunately, there are people who think that he doesn’t have such a big impact. The impact Mikel has on the team is massive, probably bigger than any other player could have in the world.
“I’m convinced that he’s a footballer that can really make history in Spanish football. His numbers are crazy. So I just celebrate his performance and hopefully we will be able to value him properly.”
