Del Bosque explains Pique absence

Spain boss Vicente del Bosque has attempted to clarify the omission of centre-back Gerard Pique from his squad to face France.

The Barcelona man started his club’s game against Villarreal at El Madrigal at the weekend after somewhat surprisingly being left out of La Roja’s trip to Paris.

However, Del Bosque was adamant it was the player who ruled himself out of the international fixture.

“There is no contradiction. What I said before about Pique’s own words is a fact. He told me he did not feel right, which is not to say he could have played.

“The person who best knows Pique’s fitness best is Luis Enrique and if the player was able to play then it was because he was fine,” the 63-year-old told a Press conference.

Del Bosque acknowledged that Spain need to put on a good display against France to erase the memory of a disastrous World Cup finals in Brazil, yet he recognises the difficulties to be faced against a team over which Spain have been superior in recent years.

“France had a good World Cup but were knocked out in the quarter-finals by Germany, who were not better than them. This is a strong France team, one that has worked with the same players for years and obtained some good results,” said Del Bosque, who lamented the absence of Franck Ribery from Deschamps’ line-up.

“He is one of the players who has the attention focused on him every time you play France,” explained the Coach, whilst adding that Alvaro Arbeloa had defended well against him on every occasion they had met.

Spain face Macedonia on Monday in a Euro 2016 qualifier and the Spain boss is determined to utilise his squad to the full.

“We are going to use the maximum number of players possible. We don’t want to burden anyone with 180 minutes, although in some cases we will have to do it. The two games are both important but the one in Valencia against Macedonia even more so.

“We are beginning a new era. In the past we have had to deal with success, which is also difficult, and now we are having to deal with a defeat or not living up to expectations.

“That’s how it is. Let’s see if we can get things right in the new era and manage to achieve the success we’ve had on other occasions,” he concluded.

Tags Del Bosque Luis Enrique Pique
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