De la Fuente goes on the attack against Flick: "He was a national team coach and I thought he had empathy."

A long-standing rivalry has been uncovered over a minor muscle injury suffered by a footballer—albeit a rising star, Lamine Yamal, who dazzles on the field but doesn't seem to be a role model in his teenage ways. According to the Spanish Football Federation, the enmity between Luis de la Fuente and Hansi Flick goes back a long way, although they haven't specified the exact reason for such a personal disagreement.

The fact is that Luis de la Fuente lost his temper in public for the first time since taking over the national team, in a clash with a journalist in Las Rozas regarding Lamine Yamal's injury.

The coach had never been seen with such a fang, who has always offered an appearance of calm without reaching confrontation, as happened in the morning when he announced the list of players called up for the matches against Georgia (October 11 in Elche) and Bulgaria (October 14 in Valladolid).

"There's no conflict with Hansi. I was simply surprised by those statements because he was a national team coach and I thought he had that empathy for other national team coaches, nothing more. There's no issue , case, or anything like that," the Rioja coach wanted to conclude.

He didn't succeed, and questions continued to pour in about Lamine's minor injury. Flick complained about the treatment given to Yamal during the previous international window and about having him play through pain. But De la Fuente warned that the player hadn't reported "any discomfort." He questioned those present and added on one point himself: "I don't know any player who plays without any discomfort. I've been one myself, and I've always had some discomfort."

Dela Fuente said more about Flick: "What I wondered, I insist, is why someone who has been a national team coach would think that way, but everyone says what they have to say, period."

There was more about injuries, the usual for a professional footballer: "Here, the risk is zero. Whoever comes here, comes healthy. In condition to play. And when they go home, it's because we've determined they can't be here because they're taking a risk."

De la Fuente praised the presence of Atlético de Madrid players, without emphasizing their origins: Marcos Llorente, Barrios, Baena, and Le Normand: "They're players who fit perfectly into our match plan, and I think it's their time. I think it's time to invest in them; they're having a fantastic season. They've always been on our radar, in all the pre-lists and even in some squads. Barrios made his debut in Tenerife against Switzerland. They've always been very close to being called up, but it's not easy to get on these lists."

De la Fuente showed consideration for Morata, who is excluded from the national team this time. "It's a technical decision. Morata is still very important to us and will be in the future. The fact that he's not in this squad is due to the scenarios we imagine against our opponents. He's important and will be. He's an active player and I'm sure he'll have a very good season."

With all these changes, the coach doesn't believe we're facing a generational change in the national team, but rather a specific issue due to injuries. Carvajal, Fabián, Fermín, Gavi... "It's obviously a matter of injuries. It's football; players get injured, and the door opens for others. We have a very solid foundation, with the most veteran player being 30 years old, and the others being 23, 21, and 18. But we're still working towards the Euros."