Luis de la Fuente, coach of the Spanish national football team, drew positive conclusions from the 1-0 victory over Denmark in Murcia, in the Nations League. He acknowledged that “projects are consolidated better through victory” and emphasized the importance of winning while maintaining a high level despite the team’s key absences. “We know the players we have,” he added.  

Analyzing the match, De la Fuente stated: “In the first half, we struggled to control the ball and move it quickly against a very good opponent that made things difficult for us. In the second half, we changed the dynamic, moved the ball faster, and the substitutions gave us more energy. Matches have their ups and downs, and that’s my takeaway from the game.”  

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He also praised the team’s growth when facing high-level opponents: “The team performs well even when matches get tough. We are continuing to evolve in that regard.”  

The coach stressed the importance of performing well and achieving results despite injuries and praised the contributions of the players who have joined the group: “We are on a fantastic run, which gives us peace of mind. Some players who didn’t have as many opportunities before will now gain more recognition. We know the talent we have, and there are others coming through with great potential, which allows us to look at both the present and the future with optimism.”  

Regarding standout players, he spoke about Martín Zubimendi, who replaced the injured Rodri Hernández and scored the winning goal: “Martín is a safe bet; he has a lot of composure and good judgment. He’s not a regular scorer, but he’s starting to show that side with us. He’s the second-best in the world in his position.”  

About Álvaro Morata, the team’s captain, he said: “He played an outstanding match, although he didn’t score because of the rival goalkeeper’s saves. He is one of the best for what we need in his position.”  

Referring to Pedri González, he explained that although the player was substituted, he is fit to play 90 minutes or more: “This is a team game, and the idea is to tire out the opponent so that another player can take advantage of the situation. Pedri gave us consistency as an attacking midfielder, and then Mikel Merino and Álex Baena came on and caused the opponent problems.”  

On Lamine Yamal, De la Fuente highlighted the player’s ability to create imbalance on the wing: “I’m happy with his performance. It’s normal for him to get kicked because that’s football, and he has to get used to it.”  

Finally, he praised Pedro Porro’s performance, who played as a right-back in place of the injured Dani Carvajal: “He’s a player we’ve known for years and always count on. He’s having a good season at Tottenham, just like Óscar Mingueza is in that same position with Celta.”  

De la Fuente concluded his remarks by thanking the Murcia fans for their support: “I want to thank the city of Murcia and the community. Their reception and behavior were impressive, both inside and outside the stadium. It’s a pleasure to experience such an atmosphere, and it’s something that makes you want to take your hat off.”