De la Fuente Defends Rodri After Spain's Stalemate
Luis de la Fuente did not tiptoe around the subject. After Spain’s flat 0-0 stalemate with Cape Verde in their 2026 World Cup opener, the debate quickly turned to Rodri and whether the Manchester City midfielder is slowing Spain down.
The Spain coach’s answer was blunt: absolutely not.
De la Fuente draws a line in the sand
Speaking to El Partidazo de Cope, De la Fuente bristled at the suggestion that Rodri is harming Spain’s transitions or dulling their attacking edge. Where some saw a ponderous pivot, he sees the heartbeat of his team.
“Good heavens, please. For you to say things like this,” he snapped, clearly irritated by the line of questioning. “Some people can say one thing or another, but in any case, I find it highly insulting to say that about the best player in the world.”
The message was unmistakable. Criticise the performance if you like, but leave Rodri out of any structural inquest.
De la Fuente doubled down, not just defending Rodri’s role but elevating him above his peers.
“Rodrigo is the best player in the world, and even at 50% he's much better than most midfielders in the world. Even at 50%,” he insisted. For Spain, he argued, Rodri is non‑negotiable: “With us, he's a player of exceptional importance, with fantastic clarity and vision, balance. Rodrigo is a guiding light for us.”
A wider grievance: how Spanish stars are judged
The coach didn’t stop at one player. The criticism of Rodri, he suggested, fits a broader pattern in how Spanish footballers are treated compared with other global stars.
He posed a pointed question: “Would they dare say that about other players who are also considered among the best in the world? Would they dare? I don't think so.”
In his view, nationality matters in the discourse. “But since they're Spanish, and you can say things about our players that you don't say about others,” he added, hinting at a double standard that has long irked figures inside Spanish football.
Spain’s failure to break down Cape Verde has opened up familiar arguments about tempo, control and risk. De la Fuente, though, has made one thing crystal clear: any tactical tweaks in the coming games will be built around Rodri, not at his expense.
