Luis de la Fuente says Gavi must continue developing and remain himself if he is to regain his place in the Spain squad after being left out for the second consecutive selection since the World Cup.
The Barcelona midfielder retains the Spain manager’s confidence, but De la Fuente says breaking into the group is extremely difficult.
“Gavi always deserves an exception. It is very difficult to become part of this group,” he said. “Gavi must continue to be himself. He has to keep improving, as everyone else must do.”
De la Fuente is also refusing to make detailed calculations over playing time before Spain’s Nations League matches against Czech Republic and England.
During the previous international break, he ensured no player exceeded 270 minutes across four matches. This time, however, he suggested the limit could be different.
“No player will play more than 180 minutes this time,” De la Fuente said sarcastically. “Well, perhaps it will be a little more, because matches last longer now.”
The Spain manager said the importance of the two fixtures meant he wanted to select his strongest available line-up.
“They are two decisive matches and we have a great deal to play for,” he said. “Our idea is to use the best players in both games.”
De la Fuente began his news conference by offering condolences following the death of Jesus de Miguel. He then explained that he always tries to manage the physical workload of his international players without overlooking the significance of the matches.
“We always try to distribute playing time among the players as much as possible, but we understand that we are competing to finish top of the group and reach the quarter-finals in the best possible condition,” he added.
New faces in Spain squad
The squad, announced at Metropolitano, includes several new faces. Jacobo Ramon has received his first call-up, while Ander Barrenetxea has returned to the manager’s plans.
De la Fuente praised Ramon’s progress and said the defender had earned the opportunity.
“He is having an excellent season and we believe now is the right time to give him a chance and watch him,” he said.
Marc Roca has also been called up by Spain for the first time. De la Fuente pointed to the midfielder’s previous success with Spain Under-21s.
“He has won the European Under-21 Championship and deserved this opportunity because of his ability and the level he is showing,” he said.
The manager also explained the inclusion of the Real Sociedad winger, who replaced Victor Munoz in the squad.
“He has a great future and fits the demands we place on wide players. Now it is Ander’s turn,” said De la Fuente.
Spain have selected four goalkeepers. David Raya has personal matters in England and may not be able to arrive until Tuesday or Wednesday, while the manager also wants to assess Alvaro Valles, whom the coaching staff have been following for some time.
Rodri’s injury is expected to give Martin Zubimendi a more prominent role. Although he is not receiving the playing time he wants at Arsenal, Zubimendi continues to have De la Fuente’s trust.
Asked about Alberto Nunez Feijoo’s comments that Spain should withdraw from hosting the 2030 World Cup if it does not stage the final, De la Fuente said: “What I believe is that the World Cup final should be played in Spain. My task now is to prepare the best team possible, and the relevant authorities can deal with the rest.”
De la Fuente also reflected on receiving the world’s best manager award at the latest Ballon d’Or ceremony.
“The Ballon d’Or was an exceptionally joyful experience for me,” he said. “I already felt fortunate simply to be among the nominees.”
