Spain boss De la Fuente sticks up for embattled Morata

Luis de la Fuente claims under-fire striker Alvaro Morata would beryllium a “legend” successful each state barroom Spain and backed his captain’s request for greater recognition.

Morata went connected nan onslaught anterior to nan Euro 2024 semi-final triumph complete France, claiming “in Spain, there’s nary respect for thing aliases anyone”.

The striker besides said he was happier surviving overseas aft spells successful England and Italy – and is reported to beryllium adjacent to a move from Atletico Madrid to Milan.

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Morata’s outburst has not gone down good pinch nan Spanish media but La Roja leader De la Fuente says nan 31-year-old is correct to consciousness under-appreciated.

He said: “It reinforces nan mentation that successful Spain, it is unluckily difficult for america to recognise nan value we have.

“Morata is simply a clear example. He has elite numbers worldwide – nan 4th highest-scorer successful Spain’s history and has won titles astatine each levels pinch top-level clubs. This subordinate would beryllium a fable successful different state pinch prestige and recognition.

“His declare seemed very adjacent to maine and I americium 100 per cent pinch him. He has not created immoderate conflict wrong nan group and he has nan support of each his colleagues. They understand him and don’t for illustration nan cognition towards him from a definite conception of nan press.”

💪🏼 ¡¡Un 𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗿𝗲𝗻𝗮𝗺𝗶𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗼 más cerca de la final!!

La espera hasta el domingo se está haciendo larga, pero seguro que merecerá mucho la pena 🥰.#VamosEspaña | #EURO2024 pic.twitter.com/YynQOL69lQ

— Selección Española Masculina de Fútbol (@SEFutbol) July 12, 2024

Morata believed to beryllium fresh to look England

Morata is expected to beryllium fresh for Sunday’s last against England aft showing nary lingering effects from a conflict pinch a steward pursuing nan France game. The erstwhile Chelsea and Juventus man was caught astir nan knee aft nan steward fell into him while trying to apprehend a selfie hunter.

Having his number 9 disposable is simply a boost for De La Fuente successful a last successful which Spain whitethorn person to adopt a different style against an England squad that will apt person nan beingness edge.

He added: “We person played different teams that person different styles.

“We person lived up to nan task and adapted. We are a squad that wants to enforce its style but besides person nan versatility erstwhile we don’t person nan shot to adapt.

“From agelong spells of possession to speedy transitions and being crisp successful attack.”

Yamal compared to world greats

Much of Spain’s attacking threat will travel from wingers Nico Williams and Lamine Yamal, nan 16-year-old who has taken nan tourney by storm.

The Barcelona winger has already been compared to nan likes of Pele, Diego Maradona and Lionel Messi but De La Fuente says patience is required.

“Surely, if we spell backmost to that property of Maradona, [Johan] Cruyff, Pele aliases Messi, they would unrecorded successful a akin situation,” he said.

“I don’t want to put unit connected him to beryllium a early subordinate of this level aliases profile. He tin do it but what you person to beryllium is calm and not put immoderate unit connected it.

“In summation to being a coach, you person to train young people. He has to beryllium educated. It is our work to nonstop his shot but besides to thatch him affectional and individual intelligence. That will besides thief him go a amended footballer.

“But it is vulnerable and it will hap that those who opportunity coming he is nan champion successful nan world will beryllium nan ones who opportunity he is vanished aliases not nan subordinate he seemed. We person knowledgeable it.”