Spain manager full of praise for breakthrough Barcelona youngster: “At a fantastic level”

Speaking in an interview with AS, Spanish national team head coach Luis de la Fuente shared his thoughts on Barcelona youngster Fermin Lopez, commending his exceptional skills and the remarkable improvement he has displayed in a brief period. 

“Well, that’s football, but surely that career will have helped Fermin to mature, to see the hardest part of football,” said the national team manager. 

“There is a song by the great Julio Iglesias that talks about the details, and that goes for all professions. To succeed, you have to be good and have a thousand more details. 

“And for me, the most important thing is those thousand more details. Fermín, who is at a fantastic level and is a very good boy, will have clung to that dream of being a footballer and he is a very interesting player,” he added.

 Luis de la Fuente asking for patience

During the discussion, he remained tight-lipped about Fermin’s inclusion in the upcoming senior team squad list. However, he urges patience from players of this kind, considering the current group he has assembled. 

He also emphasizes that there’s a substantial journey ahead before the UEFA Euro 2024, and unpredictabilities may arise in the meantime.

“Well, patience! Sometimes football, without meaning to, puts you in the place. I am sure, unfortunately, that, between now and the Euro Cup, there will be absences due to injury and, therefore, there will be players who come and go,” he said.

“But honestly, they will be the fewest, because if there were many it would be bad for the team. Surely some of these situations will arise. But we are going calmly and cautiously. 

“I am not hesitant about not giving opportunities, but is that those who are now in the national team are very good and are performing at a high level,” he said.

De la Fuente’s take on Pedri

Furthermore, he refrained from offering any remarks regarding the imminent return of Pedri, who is expected to receive medical clearance later this week, enabling him to make his comeback on the field for Barcelona this Saturday in their match against Real Sociedad.

“In the last call we were missing, in addition to Pedri, others like Marco Asensio, Jose Gaya, Nico Williams, Lamine Yamal, and Dani Olmo. 

“Others came and the good thing for the team is that there is competition because that raises the level. That is in favour of the growth of the player and the team. The more competition there is, the better. 

“This way they know that no one can lower their arms or take half-measures. Here we need committed players to leave Spain’s flag high,” he explained.