Guys, I've been going over something for days since we saw Spain lift the World Cup. I love how people have talked about the "luck" of the coach or that he got an incredible generation, but if we've seen anything this month, it's that De la Fuente is not just any coach. He's more like a Rioja winemaker: he knows the terroir, knows when each grape will be at its peak and doesn't get carried away by press headlines.
Let me explain. I remember months ago, when he called up Rodri and Nico Williams after long injuries, many said he was crazy. "How are you going to bring a guy who hasn't played in two months?" Well, time has proven him right. Like a good Rioja crianza, the one that needs its rest in the barrel, the players arrived at the tournament at their optimal point of maturation. And then Pedri's benching in key matches... what balls! Sending one of the best midfielders in the world to the bench because the team worked better that way. Not just anyone does that.
1 / 2
Look at the key decisions he has been making and how they have aged like wine:
"Risky" decision | What was said then | What ended up happening |
|---|---|---|
Calling up Rodri after long injury | "He's going to be just barely ready, better to bring someone else" | MVP of the tournament, total balance |
Mikel Merino on the list with limited minutes | "He doesn't have match rhythm" | Key goal, differential physical presence in midfield |
Nico Williams back after break | "Too early to risk it" | Constant dribbling, assist in the final |
Pedri as substitute in semifinals and final | "He is your best player, you cannot bench him" | The team gained solidity and control of the match |
Bet on the foundation of the 2019 U-21 team | "Lack of international experience" | Six years of mutual knowledge, perfect connection |
And I don't forget the best metaphor I've read these days: De la Fuente is a son of Haro (La Rioja), he grew up surrounded by vineyards and wineries. His mother ran a haberdashery in the town. That knowledge of the land, of tradition, of respecting the times, is what he has applied to the locker room. He is not an academy coach who arrives and applies the manual; he is a guy who smells the moment, like the winemaker smells the barrel.
"Knowledge of the material and intuition told him that the wine would reach its ideal point at the necessary moment. He was right."
And now what? The 2028 European Championship already loomsclic para revelar
And now the controversial question of the day: Do you prefer a "crianza" coach like De la Fuente, who knows the times and trusts his people, or a "modern and tactical" coach like Guardiola or Klopp, who prioritizes the system over the group? 👇🍷