They explain from Las Rozas that they are delighted with Luis de la Fuente. There is no criticism of Luis Enrique, not by a long shot, but the excitement of a new job that the new coach exudes has permeated all those who work at Ciudad del Fútbol. The one from La Rioja, for example, does not put any obstacles in the way to support the Federation in events that do not strictly have to do with the absolute selection and attends them happily. Another clear difference from his predecessor is his proximity to the media: he has no problem stopping for a moment and chatting even after training.
His first four days of work with the footballers already give clues about the direction he wants to take. The dynamics of work and living together are, at the moment, quite similar to the previous stage, as they explain in the dressing room, but there are very different objectives. There are some aspects that clearly mark the differences.
If Luis Enrique was always associated with his famous scaffolding, a structure that is still mounted on the training ground, but which the current coaching staff does not use, Luis de la Fuente must always be described attached to a blackboard . In his first work sessions, the technician has not separated from her. He always carries it in his hand, like a basketball coach, and uses it to correct his players. A clear difference is made here. Luis Enrique would stop the sessions and show the mistakes to his players through a giant screen. De la Fuente, on the other hand, is more interventionist during training, he doesn’t stop talking and calling his men, and he has no objections to correcting them with his blackboard during drills.
One of the things that stands out the most from Las Rozas is the intense work that has been completed by the coaching staff, De la Fuente and his six assistants, since they were appointed in the middle of the World Cup in Qatar. It has been three months in which they have witnessed dozens of matches live, more than usual, to follow the footballers. Pablo Amo, Molina’s confidant, former sports director of the RFEF, who had already worked with De la Fuente in the under 21s, acts as second coach. Miguel Ángel España, who they say uses innovative methods that the players really like, is the goalkeeper coach. Another exporter, Javier López-Vallejo, replaces Joaquín Valdés as the team’s psychologist. And there are three staff members who continue from the previous stage: Juanjo González (analyst), Carlos Cruz (physical trainer) and Pablo Peña (analyst).
Shortly before the World Cup in Qatar, Luis Enrique revealed that he did not prepare set pieces because he “didn’t have time”. This will change to red. The strategy is one of the most important points in Luis de la Fuente’s methodology, an aspect that he has already started working on these days at Las Rozas, especially in closed-door sessions, so as not to reveal his secrets. Pablo Amo and Juanjo González are the ones who carry the weight in this section.
De la Fuente’s debut, tomorrow against Norway, will show Spain’s new playing system, with many tweaks compared to recent years. One of the most important will come with the release of the ball, an aspect in which goalkeepers will no longer risk as much with the ball at their feet. They will find no objections to sending long drives.
Morata, Rodri and Carvajal are the new captains of the national team, as they have played the most matches. Further down that list is Mikel Oyarzábal, who De la Fuente knows well enough from his various stints in the lower categories and who he has also given captain status. It is the “personal touch” that he had announced.
