Luis de la Fuente keeps the door open for Barcelona’s Joan Garcia ahead of the Finalissima
With the Finalíssima against Argentina scheduled to be held just over three weeks away, the recent conflict in Iran has UEFA and CONMEBOL scrambling as football in the Middle East has been paused in many countries. Qatar, the host for the cup match between the latest European and South American champions, is one of the countries that has taken a break from football due to security concerns.
Spain boss Luis de la Fuente said a venue change to keep the March 27 date intact is possible. It’s the last real gap in the calendar before FIFA World Cup prep kicks in, and playing it at the Metropolitano in Madrid could be a solution.
The other big story for cules, though, is whether Joan García’s absurd form finally forces De La Fuente’s hand. The Barça keeper is currently the most effective in La Liga. He has the numbers to back it up. So it’s no surprise that there’s growing noise about his inclusion, yet reports from El Nacional suggest De La Fuente has already promised his veteran heavyweights – Unai Simón, David Raya, and Álex Remiro – that he’s likely to stick to the established block that won the Euros.
García has been a wall, preventing 7.68 goals more than the “expected goals” (xG) models say he should have. Even with those numbers, De La Fuente remains non-committal about a call-up.
He did reveal a private conversation he had with the keeper during a recent injury spell. “In a moment that he was doing very well, he got injured,” De La Fuente explained. “I spoke with him and told him, ‘continue on your path, do not listen to what the media is saying.’”
“Of the ten best goalkeepers in the world, six are Spanish,” De La Fuente commented, meaning some great ones would miss out.
One Barcelona player that will for sure be included is Lamine Yamal. After his hat-trick against Villarreal, the teenager admitted he hadn’t been happy on the pitch a few months back. De la Fuente was blunt about the pressure, saying, “I celebrate him a lot, I also know that he has had a very bad time.”
Yamal has been branded a party boy and unfocused by some sections of the media. “He has been treated very unfairly. It would be more unusual for an 18-year-old to not have a party sometimes,” the boss said.
He pointed out that people see the talent but ignore the three hours of training followed by sessions with personal trainers, nutritionists, and psychologists. For De La Fuente, the fact that Lamine is smiling again is the “best news,” praising the “mental strength” required to endure that level of scrutiny at 18.
Source: barcablaugranes.com
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