New Spain coach expects improved 'La Roja' in Final Four of Nations League

ENSCHEDE, Netherlands — After a lackluster start to his stint as Spain coach, Luis de la Fuente arrives at the Final Four of the Nations League expecting to see an improved version of “La Roja.”

De la Fuente, who replaced Luis Enrique after the World Cup in Qatar, is under pressure after Spain struggled in its first two matches under him in March. It needed two late goals in a hard-fought 3-0 win over a Norway team missing Erling Haaland to open its qualifying campaign for the 2024 European Championship, then lost 2-0 at Scotland.

“Now we should be closer to what we expect,” De la Fuente said Wednesday, a day before Spain's semifinal against Italy in the Netherlands. “The team is taking steps forward, little by little, I can see it every day in training.”

He said players are becoming more used to his ideas and believes the squad has the potential to win the Nations League title.

“We haven’t had a lot of time, but we will try to be up to the task,” De la Fuente said. “I think we can achieve something important. We have a historic opportunity to win a title with two matches.”

Spain reached the Nations League final in 2021 but lost to France. It is seeking its first title in more than a decade, since it won the 2012 European Championship. It was eliminated by Morocco on penalties in the round of 16 of the World Cup, with Luis Enrique still in charge, the latest in a string of disappointing results at major tournaments.

De la Fuente said he is not approaching the Final Four differently because of the pressure brought on by his poor start.

“I approach this game as if it was my last one, but because that’s how I always approach any game. I’ve always been like that,” he said. “To play a semifinal against Italy should be enough motivation for anyone. We have a chance to start making our own history.”

Veteran Spain defender Jordi Alba said there was no reason to doubt De la Fuente.

“We all have trust in him,” Alba said. “We are happy with what he has done so far. We all have to be united right now.”

De la Fuente said he expects Manchester City players Rodri and Aymeric Laporte, who arrived later than his teammates after helping their club win the Champions League for the first time, to be available for the match against Italy.

“They are great professionals and will be ready,” the coach said. “They will be extra motivated after what they've gone through. I'm convinced that we can count on them if needed.”

The other Nations League semifinal will be played between the Netherlands and Croatia.