Del Bosque ‘to leave after Euro 2016’

Vicente Del Bosque has confirmed he intends to step down as Spain Coach after Euro 2016 and says he doesn’t regret resigning earlier.

Del Bosque has been interviewed by AS and touched on a variety of subjects, from the international future of Fernando Torres, the fitness of Diego Costa and Gerard Pique and the quality – or lack thereof – of Spanish central defenders in La Liga.

“I think I did what I had to do with Pique. I didn’t talk to Luis Enrique. It’s not that I’m reluctant to talk with Coaches but they have one position and I have another. I haven’t spoken to Carlo Ancelotti, who I really like.

“What is needed is to [combine the interests of club Coaches and his own]. There must be respect. I have always behaved properly with clubs,” Del Bosque said.

“It’s a matter of trust. I have nothing against [Andreu] Fontas and I’ve followed him since he emerged as a midfielder for Barcelona.

“I have nothing against Fontas or Inigo Martinez or Alvaro Dominguez, who by the way, I played with his father. But I bring the players I think are best.

“Generally I always get asked the same things: Iker Casillas, Costa, Jose Mourinho and sometimes Florentino Perez. I don’t mind but I don’t want conflict with anyone.

“All I’ve said and all I’ll say is that Diego Costa, like any other player, won’t play if he’s not able to. But if he’s well, he will have to play with the national team. His muscle injury is very difficult to prove.

“We were almost in the realm of the mystical. It’s not that complicated. If he’s ok, he plays, as he did in Paris. If he’s not right, he goes back to his club, as against Macedonia.”

Del Bosque was asked why, when Costa withdrew from the Macedonia fixture, was an experienced forward not called up, rather than Munir El Haddadi.

“We’re in the same case as with Fontas: It’s a matter of trust. I remember Torres had only just started playing with his new club,” he replied.

“But I have nothing against anyone. If we had brought an experienced player, we couldn’t have had Paco Alcacer. We can’t fit everyone in the squad.

“There’s always 20 players who could come but we don’t call up.”

It was put to Del Bosque that he could have left his post on a high after World Cup 2010 or Euro 2012, but the veteran rejected the reasoning offered.

“Why not stay on? By that rule I could have left Real Madrid after the first Champions League win,” he countered.

“Football is my profession, how my children eat. I don’t know why I have to go. It could be selfishness or lack of humility.

“If I’d left after the first Champions League win we wouldn’t have won the second. And if I’d left after the 2010 World Cup, we wouldn’t have won Euro 2012.

“I’ll stay until France 2016, unless I see a reason not to. I don’t expect to resign before that, no.

“But that is my intention: to stay until France 2016 and leave after. And the RFEF can make a smooth transition.”

Tags Euro 2016 Spain Vicente Del Bosque
La Liga - Club News