Del Bosque: No Chelsea concern

Vicente Del Bosque isn’t worried Chelsea’s poor season will affect their Spain internationals for Euro 2016 and discussed Iker Casillas and Saul Niguez.

Chelsea have struggled in defence of their Premier League title and boast a number of La Roja’s regulars – Cesar Azpilicueta, Cesc Fabregas, Diego Costa and Pedro Rodriguez.

“Cesc isn’t playing badly and neither is Azpilicueta,” Del Bosque told an interview with Mundo Deportivo, having discussed Costa at length earlier, with the striker not in the latest squad.

“Pedro has been injured and admittedly, he hasn’t been quite right, but he’s been reliable with us and hopefully he remains so.

“It might be a case of [Cesc, Azpi and Pedro] burdened by their team, but for example, Cesc is a very good player, so he’s with us.”

Casillas’ form in Portugal has also been criticised but Del Bosque isn’t questioning the captain’s role with the national team.

“He’s playing with an important European team and he’s as active as anyone else,” the Coach insisted.

“In addition, he has an extraordinary background. There must be a certain respect to a player who has done everything and is everything.”

Del Bosque also stressed the need for ‘continuity’ in the squad with regards to Paco Alcacer and Alvaro Morata, two of the three strikers named, along with Aritz Aduriz.

“Already in another squad we’ve been a bit demanding with Alcacer and Morata, who were not playing well,” he acknowledged.

“They weren’t playing a lot and they weren’t quite right, but we have to have a little continuity.

“If not, I’m not saying [the squad] doesn’t function, but they’re not here only because they have a lot of merit but also because we believe in them.”

Saul Niguez’s absence raised eyebrows but Del Bosque moved to explain why the Atletico Madrid midfielder was left with the Under-21s.

“He doesn’t come with us because we can’t bring everyone and because the Under-21s have a very important match on Thursday,” he clarified.

“We prefer he plays an official game with them rather than a friendly with us.”

Tags Cesar Azpilicueta Cesc Fabregas Chelsea Diego Costa Iker Casillas Pedro Rodriguez Porto Saul Niguez Spain Vicente Del Bosque
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