Ahead of Spain’s Nations League clash against Switzerland on Sunday, manager Luis de la Fuente addressed the concerns surrounding the packed football calendar and its impact on player health. Despite the concerns, de la Fuente maintained that players need to be involved with their national sides.
The European champions will face Switzerland in Geneva after both teams suffered setbacks in their opening matches. Switzerland lost 2-0 to Denmark, while Spain drew 0-0 against Serbia. De la Fuente acknowledged the upcoming match’s significance, calling it “one of the most important games that could be currently played in Europe.” He emphasized Spain’s focus on utilizing their strengths and minimizing Switzerland’s.
The Spanish coach was directly questioned about the increased fixture congestion and its potential consequences. He stated that while player health is a top priority, their commitment to the national team is equally important. De la Fuente explained that the calendar is agreed upon by governing bodies, and while Spain complies with it, they are not the ones responsible for its creation. He asserted that the national team deserves the utmost importance, as all players want to represent their country and clubs generally support their players’ international involvement.
Despite the concerns over player workload, de la Fuente firmly stated that he would not limit the contributions of players from high-profile clubs to protect their club performance. He emphasized that representing the country and fielding the best players is his duty, and prioritizing certain players over others based on their club affiliations would be unfair.
Sunday’s match could see the return of midfielder Rodri, who has yet to play for Manchester City after being forced off at halftime during Spain’s Euro 2024 final victory against England. De la Fuente reiterated his commitment to player health, stating that Rodri is fully recovered and will eventually need to play, whether for Spain or his club. He clarified that if Rodri is deemed fit to start against Switzerland, he will do so without risking his well-being, acknowledging that unforeseen circumstances can always arise in football.
De la Fuente’s stance highlights the ongoing debate regarding player workload and the balance between club and international commitments. While acknowledging the concerns, he firmly believes in the importance of national representation and will continue to field the strongest possible squad, prioritizing player health but refusing to compromise the national team’s ambition.
