De la Fuente Explains Why He Will Not Change Gavi's Style. The head coach of the Spanish national team spoke about the recovery progress of key players and explained why he has no intention to limit Gavi's energy. On the eve of the match against Peru, lineup options and the role of wide midfielders are being discussed.
Ahead of the friendly match against Peru, Spain's head coach Luis de la Fuente focused on personnel matters and the specifics of the team's preparations. At a press conference in Puebla, he spoke in detail about the condition of players recovering from injuries and outlined his approach to working with Gavi, whose playing style often sparks debate.
According to de la Fuente, Nico, Lamine, and Victor are following their rehabilitation schedule and have already started individual training sessions. The medical staff has recommended not calling them up for the upcoming match to avoid the risk of recurrence. If progress continues, all three should be able to rejoin the main group by the 15th. The coach emphasized that each player has a different injury and recovery timeline, but at the moment the outlook is positive.
The question about Gavi received particular attention. De la Fuente noted that he does not intend to restrain Gavi's energy and passion on the field, although it is important for the player to learn to manage his stamina better. According to the coach, this is exactly the type of Gavi the national team needs, despite certain training incidents that sometimes become topics of discussion.
Options on the flanks remain open: the candidates being considered are Ferran, Yeremi, as well as Oyarzabal and Baena. The coaching staff will make a decision on the starting lineup closer to the match, taking into account the players’ condition and the objectives for the game. At the same time, De la Fuente hinted that in the upcoming match, those who did not take the field in the previous game against Iraq will have a chance to play.
The match against Peru is seen as an important stage in preparation for the World Cup. According to the coach, the game in Puebla will allow the team to adapt to tournament conditions and test various tactical systems. The Moroccan national team took a similar approach, recently holding a friendly ahead of the 2026 World Cup — you can read more about it in the article on how Morocco hosted Madagascar at the new stadium in Rabat.
The Spanish national team traditionally pays close attention to physical fitness and squad depth. In recent years, the coaching staff has actively used rotation to reduce the risk of injury and maintain a high tempo throughout the tournament. The recovery of key players for the start of the World Cup could play a decisive role in the final result. According to RUSSPAIN, this strategy has already paid off at major tournaments, where the timely return of team leaders has enabled Spain to remain competitive through to the final stages.
