Madrid – Spanish national team coach Luis de la Fuente has responded to criticism from Germany’s hansi Flick regarding the injury sustained by Barcelona‘s Lamine Yamal while on international duty last month. de la fuente expressed surprise at Flick’s comments, defending his team’s handling of the 18-year-old player.
Yamal suffered a groin injury after returning to Barcelona from a recent Spanish national team camp, sidelining him for four matches. Flick publicly voiced his disapproval,suggesting improper handling of players during international breaks. De la Fuente, however, countered that Flick, as a former national team coach himself, should understand the demands and risks inherent in international competition.
“There was no conflict with Flick,” De la Fuente stated. “I was only surprised by those statements, becuase he was once a national team coach and I thought he understood it.” He emphasized the importance of upcoming World Cup qualifying matches, suggesting Flick’s concerns may stem from other motivations.
“We play for the World Cup, that’s what is really important. The rest are not important. Everyone has said what they say, and that’s all,” de la Fuente added.
Despite Flick’s concerns, Yamal has been recalled to the spanish national team for upcoming World Cup qualifiers against Georgia on October 12th and Bulgaria on October 15th. The debate highlights the ongoing tension between club and country regarding player welfare and the pressures of international schedules,particularly as teams prepare for major tournaments like the World Cup.
