Spain national team coach Luis de la Fuente recently appeared on the first episode of Radio Marca's new show "Otra Ronda," where he discussed several hot topics related to the Spanish national team and revealed some reasons behind the team's recent success. He also spoke about Rodri's return to La Liga, Messi's retirement from the Argentine national team, and his criteria for squad selection.

One of the most discussed names in the conversation was Rodri. De la Fuente believes that his return to La Liga is good news for Spanish football. The Spanish coach did not hesitate to place this midfielder in the highest tier: "Rodri is the Messi of Spanish football." De la Fuente believes Rodri can adapt to any environment because "he is the best in the world at his position," and he particularly emphasized that having the national team's top players return to the domestic league has significant value for Spanish football itself.

"I am very happy that these top players are staying in La Liga, because it makes the league stronger. It really means that the best players in the world, who are our players, are playing for Spanish clubs," he explained. On this matter, he also acknowledged that he hopes other national team players currently playing abroad can return to Spain to continue showcasing their talent at home.

Messi, a player hard to surpass

De la Fuente also spoke about Messi. The Spanish coach expressed his respect for the Argentine player after he ended his international career. He believes that people have not yet truly grasped the magnitude of Messi's career.

"He is a football legend," the coach said. He believes that only time will help people truly understand Messi's achievements. "We will realize how influential a player he was, and the numbers he achieved will be extremely difficult for anyone to surpass," he said.

In De la Fuente's view, Messi still has room to continue playing at club level. "He will stop when he wants to stop; football will not bring him down before that," he said.

Continuity is one of the key factors in his squad selection

The coach also explained the importance of maintaining a core group of familiar players who have worked together for a long time. National team training sessions have limited time, so continuity is particularly important.

"Our challenge is that we don't have much time. We don't have 38 league matches or 10 games to gradually adjust things that could be adjusted slowly in the league," he explained. Therefore, he believes that building a stable team is crucial: "With good harmony, with a good team, with an extended sense of 'collectiveness,' everything will be better, faster, more stable and go further."

However, De la Fuente also emphasized that continuity does not replace competitive performance. "My only motivation when selecting players is the competitive factor, there is no other motivation," he stated.

The coach stressed that he does not care which club a player comes from; his decisions depend solely on the Spanish national team's competitive needs and the different tactical scenarios that each opponent might present. "Playing with good people is more advantageous, and competing with excellent players is more competitive," he concluded.

When asked whether he envisions himself being the national team coach for a long time, De la Fuente does not look too far ahead. "I am very short-sighted when it comes to football," he admitted.

He gave an example: shortly after winning the World Cup, he spoke with some players. While everyone was still celebrating the championship, one player asked him what they could win next. His answer was very direct: "Right now, focus on the match against England in September."

He explained that this mentality also exists among the players, and it is important to maintain competitive drive. "They want to keep competing, keep winning," he emphasized.

Therefore, De la Fuente has thought about the next objective and the necessity of continuous improvement. "We will continue to work to make everything better, because everything can still be improved," he said. He also reminded that each new tournament requires a different aspect from the team: "The next tournament will bring different demands, and it will be very difficult. We will have to show a new face, a new version."

De la Fuente and his unique philosophy

In the interview, he also spoke about his relationship with players and the importance of the dressing room. De la Fuente defines this team as a big family and emphasizes that respect is a necessary condition for peaceful coexistence.

He also discussed his approach to daily work. The coach is an avid reader who loves the thoughts of philosophers and writers. He said that he does not simply copy these ideas but integrates them into his life.

"Especially when they can help me make decisions at specific moments and guide my life," he explained. This philosophy has also been applied to football: hard work, respect, harmony, and competitive performance are the foundation for this team, which has already won important championships, to move forward, and they are now preparing for their next version.

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