In an interview with Diario AS, Spain head coach Luis de la Fuente addressed the difficult moment Xabi Alonso is going through at Real Madrid, pushing for balance amid growing criticism.
De la Fuente said the scrutiny does not surprise him. “It doesn’t surprise me because it’s a fact of life. Whenever the results aren’t coming, the coach is the one who gets questioned; he’s the first one to be criticized,” he explained. At the same time, he warned against emotional extremes. “It’s also nice when things
are going well and people are talking about you, the praise comes in, and so on. That’s why it’s important to maintain balance. Don’t get carried away with victories, nor sink to the deepest pit with defeats.”
For De la Fuente, managing perception is part of the job. “The key is to maintain equilibrium. You have to know that if things are going well, they’ll want to praise you to the skies, and if they’re going badly, they’ll throw you in the mud.”
The Spain coach also spoke about Dani Carvajal’s World Cup prospects following his injury struggles. “God willing, Dani Carvajal will be at the World Cup. I spoke with him, and he told me his recovery is going well,” he said. “There are still many months to go, but Carvajal being at the World Cup would be the best news for him and for the national team.”
On Álvaro Carreras, De la Fuente explained his selection criteria. “Our decisions are ours, and I bring in those I believe are the best,” he said, adding that Carreras and Alejandro Balde “are on our preliminary list and are doing very well.”
