Spain coach defends Barcelona sensation after substitution against Portugal – ‘He has had very little rest’ | OneFootball

Following Spain’s narrow loss to Portugal in the UEFA Nations League final, national team coach Luis de la Fuente addressed the media to discuss the result and took time to defend one of the night’s most talked-about players, Lamine Yamal.

The Barcelona prodigy did not enjoy his best performance, but De la Fuente was quick to point out the reasons behind it.

“It’s normal for Lamine to be tired, he’s very young and he’s had a very hard year,” said the coach, referring to the teenager’s intense schedule with both club and country.

Yamal, just 17 years old, has been a key player for Barça and Spain all season, and the weight of expectations seems to be catching up with him.

Explaining his substitution

De la Fuente explained the decision to substitute Yamal midway through the final. “We wanted to give a little energy to the game.

“Yeremy and Baena gave us the control we needed. We wanted to reactivate energies in the whole group, especially on the wings,” he said.

Lamine Yamal could not do much against Portugal. (Photo by Alexander Hassenstein/Getty Images)

The coach added that, given Yamal’s age and the demanding schedule, managing his minutes is essential: “He’s had very little rest, he’s only 17, and we must dose him when necessary.”

Urging patience and pride in young talents

Despite the defeat, De la Fuente maintained a positive tone, especially when talking about his players.

“We have to value these players. It is a pride to be able to manage and work with them,” he said, sending a strong message of support to his young squad.

Reflecting on the match itself, the coach admitted it was closely contested. “It was a match of equals, with a lot of quality on both sides. If we had taken one of our chances.

“But football doesn’t care about fair or unfair. The one who wins is always the fair winner,” he added.