Luis De la Fuente has warned his Spain to expect a wave of intensity at Hampden.
But the new La Roja national coach admits he’s ready to make quickfire changes to combat Steve Clarke’s fired-up charges and senses immediate improvement within his own new-look squad. De la Fuente and his unit were due to land in Glasgow on Sunday night ahead of Tuesday’s Euro 2024 showdown. The manager arrives in superb spirits after his first game at the helm ended in a 3-0 success over Norway in Malaga.
De la Fuente admits he felt like a “rookie” on night one, but his team delivered on the Costa Del Sol. However, the manager says he might switch it up to deal with the strengths of Scotland. De la Fuente explained: “The match against Scotland demands other things. They are very intense. If I have to make changes, we will. What there is is a fantastic team that offers many alternatives. In four days, I have seen things. They can give much more and we will continue to grow in all aspects.
“The games are very difficult to win and it is a virtue to know how to mature your opponent to take advantage of the opportunities that appear at certain moments of the game.
“My goal is to get the most out of the players. It is very important that they come out and be able to revolutionise. I don’t know if it’s Plan B, C or whatever, but the substitutions are there for that. We will try to be superior.”
De la Fuente was delighted to get the first win out of the way, even if he realised it was far from a perfect performance.
Dani Olmo’s early opener set them up to hammer an Erling Haaland-less Norwegians, but they failed to put the game to bed and Stale Solbakken chances to level before Joselu’s late double secured the triumph.
De la Fuente said: “I felt like a rookie. I thought of those who are not here, of my parents and of all those who love me. Nothing in life is achieved without effort.
“It was not a particularly sublime match, but it was a well-played match.
“Our virtue is to have a versatile team, capable of defending, counter-attacking, defending and shooting from the outside.
“The most important thing is the richness of our players. It was very difficult for us to generate play. We faced a team in front that counter-attacked and did it very well.
“I am very satisfied. We work high press from the beginning and we are the best in the world in that sense. But sometimes we have to defend in the middle block and low block and we have to do it well.
“We knew the opponent we had and have gone from less to more gaining confidence. We have only worked four days, but they are so good that they understand things very quickly.
“I am used to suffering and, at this level, it is impossible not to. There are things that we can do better.”
Joselu’s two goals capped a dream debut at the age of 32 for the former Newcastle United attacker and the boss added: “Our job is to get to know the footballers.
“What we do is give the opportunity and recognition to the work you do in your club. I really celebrate his debut. I feel proud for Joselu.
“Everything he has achieved has been earned by him and he deserves to be here. A footballer, if he works in the end, obtains performance.”
