De la Fuente adamant there is no racism in Spain despite England reminder to players
Spain coach Luis de la Fuente has told England counterpart Thomas Tuchel that there is no racism in Spain, following Tuchel’s admission that he would remind his players of anti-racism protocols before their Nations League meeting in Madrid.
The match at the Metropolitano on Sunday night will be the first time the two countries have met in Madrid since England’s black players were subjected to racist abuse at the Santiago Bernabéu in 2004.
Although England have returned to Spain three times without incident since then, twice in Seville and once in Alicante, Tuchel was asked about the potential for trouble in the buildup to the game.
The England coach replied that England “will not expect anything [untoward]” but also said: “maybe we take our five minutes to inform the players about the protocol if there is a precedent [in Madrid].”
De la Fuente was then asked about those words and whether Spain still had work to do combating racism after being fined for discriminatory chants about Muslims during a game against Egypt in Barcelona in March.
“I can say the opposite. Tell Thomas there is no racism. As clear as that. Exactly the same as in England. We’re not racists, none of us.”
De la Fuente also described Spain versus England as “one of the best games you can see anywhere in the world right now, maybe the best.”
He admitted that his team needs to exercise more control than they had been able to do during their 3-2 win at Wembley in September.
Price versus value
De la Fuente was asked to explain how the Premier League could be the richest league in the world and English players command bigger transfer fees than Spaniards despite the national team not winning anything since 1966.
He insisted that it is a mistake to mix price and value, saying: “Someone has to pay it and that’s very welcome but it doesn’t mean it is the real value.”
“I am surprised often when you see the prices paid for our players compared to [the fees] paid in England. I think ‘they’re so cheap’. They [Spanish players] are the best in the world.”
De la Fuente added that between the English and Spanish models, he would choose the Spanish model, which he described as recognisable and one where players have the ability to express themselves.
“The English model has developed a lot and I think it is very good. But you have to have the players. We can’t play like them and they can’t play like us.”
England’s strengths
De la Fuente noted that one of England’s strengths is the ability to run into space and that when the game is open, they have people who are comfortable with that space and playing that style.
He said that in the last two tournaments, England have been third and finalists, and that this shows it is not easy to win.
“Maybe that should make us appreciate what we’re doing this century: it is marvellous and very difficult. England are always candidates to win everything [nowadays].”
De la Fuente concluded that Sunday’s game is one of the best he can see in the world.
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