Luis de la Fuente has just appeared at the Javits Center in Manhattan, the place chosen by FIFA for the press conference of the selectors of the World Cup finalists and the players chosen by them: Rodri in the case of Spain and Dibu Martínez for Argentina.
Is it only worth winning?: “It is already a luxury to be in a final. I would agree to reach a world championship final every year and lose it. We want to fight to win it. We are going to enjoy that moment. They are a great rival who has a spectacular career.”
Argentina’s canchero game: “It will be a great show. They are two super teams, with many similarities. Each of us will try to take the game where we are most interested, but both teams will propose a match where talent wins. The referees are there to help the show. And we are there to help them.”
Nerves: “I’m nervous because we’re now returning by helicopter to the hotel and that makes me nervous. Not the rest. I’m very calm. What we want is to enjoy.”
Lamine Yamal: “It’s fine. Everyone has trained well. Let’s hope there are no setbacks tomorrow. Lamine is Lamine; Messi is unrepeatable. He is an example. His attitude, his behavior… With his age and in this spectacular World Cup.”
His secret: “The trick is to work, work and work. And even then things don’t work out. And when they don’t work out you have to keep working and surround yourself with good companions: good players, good coaching staff…”
A longer break: “Before starting this journey I told the players about the peculiarities of the World Cup and this is what it is. We have not had a single reproach or a complaint. All this that seems strange to us today, it is possible that in a few years it will be common. It is what it is. Adaptation and that’s it.”
Anxiety: “Between us. Both Scaloni and I agree on many concepts. In that we have a lot of similarities. In that equality, we have to try to win by details and try to impose ourselves. When we have to suffer, we will suffer.”
Individual mark on Messi?: “I knew Messi when I coached the Sevilla youth team. At first we did individual marking. Then they carded the player, I changed him and they marked four of us. We will not do individual marking, but we will be attentive. And Scaloni and I are two great competitors who admire each other a lot. It is a luxury to face each other.”
Marcus Aurelius: “The important thing is the honeycomb, not the bee. Because what is important is the team. It is a lesson that must never be forgotten.”
Is Argentina a dirty or disloyal team?: “I respect all opinions, but no. I have great admiration for the team. It comes from making history and they are led by a friend of mine. Each one will use their football weapons, but this is a football match.”
More by Lamine: “Lamine 100%. “He had a strong blow, but he held up the match perfectly. Yesterday we gave him a rest, today he was with his teammates normally… He’s fine, there are no problems with him.”