De la Fuente: Comparing Yamal to Messi is the Biggest Mistake, and the Saudi Team has Developed Greatly

Spanish national team coach Luis de la Fuente appeared in a press conference to talk about today's match against Saudi Arabia in the second round of the group stage of the 2026 World Cup.

The coach said: "We are excited to return to the competition; we want to change the course and regain that spirit we used to have."

He added: "What are the impressions after the first match? I receive many messages saying that people in Spain are behind the cause. The team deserves it. We are not discouraged. We are excited to return to competition. The result five days ago changed some things, but we want to change the course and regain that spirit we used to have."

He continued: "There are no doubts. The analysis aims to clarify concepts and determine where we were right or less accurate, always with the spirit of improvement. I believe changes are necessary because they add different things. Lamine Yamal is fine. He will play as we see fit. The important thing is that he is back and eager to do something important."

Regarding the playing style of the Saudi team and whether they will play with a defensive block: "With our style, we force opponents to retreat to a low defensive block. We hope to take a step forward and face the medium block. We need to be more precise in competition. In the last match, we were not good, and we lacked ball rotation. We need to improve the speed of ball movement and create spaces to exploit them."

He followed: "Will Yamal play as a starter? The best for Spain is what we will decide before the match. After that, there will be many analyses based on what happens with Lamine or after the match. We played with Baena, and he was excellent. Not every match is the same performance. Gavi also had a good match. This match is different and will be different from the previous one."

On the draw in the first round and whether the team feels scared: "We don't see it that way. It was a match that if it ended 2 or 3-0, it would have been different. Corrections must be made. It's not dramatic, but we must win tomorrow. There is no feeling of pressure or anxiety. The team has a great competitive spirit. The players follow everything, and this might affect them, but they are used to it. However, I say something: they are very angry... 'Excited and angry,' and their image will be different."

On the players' condition: "We try to take care of the players. Victor is not ready to give him minutes. The injury he suffered forces us to give him rest. He went through a lot of pressure, and maybe this affected him mentally. Victor will be very important for us in the future of the tournament."

He continued: "Tomorrow is your birthday, what do you wish for? I wish to enjoy life, my work, and the luck I have after 13 years in the Spanish federation. We are a family. Today is Popiel's birthday. Now I am with another family, and we are happy. Tomorrow we want a beautiful match and to win."

He followed: "Was there a lack of ball speed? In building with Fabian, Rodrigo, and Pedri with position switching, the performance cannot be bad. Also with Merino and Zubimendi. The plan tomorrow is to be ourselves again. I try to make the players deliver their best performance in different positions."

On Dani Olmo: "He is one of the best players in playing between the lines. He has very strong abilities in this aspect. In one match, there are many scenarios, and we may use one player and then another. We want them to feel comfortable and regain their best level. The characteristics of each opponent are different."

Regarding Emeric Laporte's talk about switching partnerships between defenders in training: "Training must be integrated with different teammates. Laporte is a great and confirmed player, while Koubarsi, Eric, and Popiel are younger players, and this benefits them."

On his condition: "I am as I was six days ago: responsible, excited, motivated, and eager to compete tomorrow. We have a clear idea, and I hope we are all at the level."

He noted about Yamal's performance: "He must be stopped to do what he should at this stage. It's great to see him compete, with his spirit and touch. The good news is that everyone is available. Lamine is in very good condition. The minutes depend on the match. Decisions cannot be judged after the match because everyone becomes a judge."

He noted: "Are you a pessimist, optimist, or superstitious? I am not superstitious; I only believe. I do it daily. I don't ask for specific things to happen. I am very lucky. Tomorrow I turn 65... (laughs) Life gives me strength and energy. Being here is a great opportunity."

He noted: "Is there haste in reaching conclusions? Let's not forget Portugal; it is one of the best teams. In a short tournament like this, you can only make one mistake. In the league, you can make up for it, but here the mistake might eliminate you directly. Therefore, we must be at our best level. There is no small opponent; there are 48 strong teams. On any day, any team can win. If you have a bad day, it should not be too obvious. Now we want to be at our best version."

On Laporte's readiness to participate as a starter: "I am not lying; I will not mention the lineup out of respect for the players. Laporte is ready to play. He trained naturally, and there are no problems. We will see if he is a starter or not, except for Victor Munoz, everyone has a chance. We have 25 players available, and only 11 will play."

On the Saudi team: "It has developed greatly in all aspects: physical, technical, and competitive. They have previously proven their ability to beat Argentina. Any team can cause problems if you are not at your best level."

He concluded: "Is the frequent talk about Lamine negative, and can he be compared to Messi or Maradona? No, because we have a very healthy environment. We know the importance of each player. We have the best. We welcome this attention to Lamine. We understand his role, and his teammates do too. In the team, everyone is equal; the biggest mistake is the comparison. He is in a stage of development, and he still has maturity ahead. He experiences it naturally and is a player from the team. We must let him walk his path. There is great interest in him, but exceptional players can handle that. They are geniuses. He must be helped and supported without pressure. This is best for everyone. People should accompany him in the growth stage. He cannot be treated like Jesus Navas. He is very smart and understands guidance. He must be protected in the media, but he only needs guidance. He has immense talent and the ability to solve difficult situations."