Spain coach Luis de la Fuente gave a pre-match press conference ahead of the Nations League clash against Serbia on Monday. The manager explained that Lamine Yamal left the training camp because he had a niggle. He also assured that he had not been pressured by Barcelona, nor had he spoken to anyone at the club.
The Spanish national team are already in Cordoba for the last Nations League match of this international break against Serbia. At the pre-match press conference, Luis de la Fuente analysed their next match in the press room and gave his first impressions.
Without a doubt, the first question was about Lamine Yamal and his departure from the training camp due to injury: “I’m going to tell you what happened. Lamine had a niggle and I asked him how he was.
“I asked him if he could play on Tuesday and when in doubt, there is no doubt. We looked at what was best for the player and we decided to rest him. We have done it with others, there is no exception.
“Football is football. He simply had some discomfort, like other teammates had. If other teammates told me the same as Lamine, they would be at home too. He played what he had to play because this is football. There is no more debate,” he added.
Furthermore, De la Fuente confirmed that there was no pressure from Barcelona: “I have not spoken to anyone from Barcelona. There has simply been honesty. I appreciate the gesture of a player who is not fine and has told me that he is not 100 per cent ready for a very important game.
“I appreciate that he is so honest and so mature for his youth. I have full confidence in him. What I pity most is that there are people who play into the game with these comments. I said that national team games are one game a month for the player. Let’s stop beating around the bush,” he said.
