Real Madrid’s Nacho admits he is disappointed to have missed out on a place in Spain’s Euro 2016 squad but will work harder to make the next one.
Nacho had been called up this season by Vicente del Bosque but was ignored from the 25-man preliminary group named earlier this week, with Marc Bartra drafted in as support for first choice defenders Gerard Pique and Sergio Ramos.
“Obviously I would have liked to be on the list. I’ve been working hard all year since I saw I had the chance to go. I’m sad not to have gone but it’s a happy time because there are only a few days until I play for something important with my club,” he said, AS reports, referencing Madrid’s Champions League Final.
“Hopefully I’ll have more opportunities with the national team throughout my life and I’m at the disposition of the Coach when he needs me. If it had been Bartra who stayed home he’d also have this question. I think it was difficult for the Coach, because we’re fortunate in Spain that we have great players and some had to be left out.
“Each person would come up with a different list but the Coach is Del Bosque and I have a lot to be grateful to him for because he gave me my senior debut. I will fight to be in the next squad.”
Lucas Vazquez did make the cut and Nacho added he wishes the forward well but doesn’t feel the need to offer any advice, and discussed his own future at Santiago Bernabeu.
“I haven’t given Lucas any advice. He’s prepared and he has the opportunity to continue to show what a good player he is, and I wish him well,” Nacho continued.
“Now isn’t the time for me to think about other teams. I have a contract with Madrid and soon is the Champions League Final. It’d be very nice to put something else in the cabinet at home. I’m focused on Madrid, and will speak after the final.
“The Coach makes their decisions. First it was Rafa Benitez, then Zinedine Zidane. I always work to start for Madrid. I’m not satisfied being the fourth centre-back. I always want more minutes and I hope they gradually keep coming.
“Zidane has delivered good numbers since he arrived. I don’t know if he should stay or not because that’s not my decision, but of course, he has done very well.”
