Vicente Del Bosque won’t consider the Clasico between Barcelona and Real Madrid when making decisions for the Spain side.
Barca and Madrid meet in the game immediately following the international break, in which La Roja play Italy and Romania, and the Coach was asked by Mundo Deportivo if the fixture is on his mind.
“No, not really. I’m not saying we’re isolated from all that, but we’ll pick those we believe are best for us,” he replied.
“That’s regardless of where they play, where they were born and all circumstances. It’s impossible otherwise.”
Sergi Roberto is a new name in the squad after he impressed in a variety of positions for Barca, and Catalan publication Mundo Deportivo pushed the trainer on the midfielder.
“We know him from the Under-21s and the main thing and best thing is he has adapted to different circumstances with Barcelona and he has performed everywhere. That’s fundamental,” Del Bosque acknowledged.
“And besides, he hasn’t come with problems and said ‘No, I’m a midfielder.’ He’s been told to play left-back, then right-back, midfield, right midfield, and he has performed wherever he’s had to.”
Sergi, for his part, thanked Luis Enrique for his assistance in his development, and Del Bosque was asked about both Clasico Coaches.
“Luis Enrique has shown with his team’s fantastic performance [that he is a great Coach],” he said, agreeing with the interviewer’s suggestion.
“His team is playing very well and it’s not easy to lead great players.
“Zinedine Zidane has the character to meet the challenge that lies ahead and he’s been preparing with Castilla.
“He’s got personality and I think he’s doing well. The image from outside is very good. I can’t talk about inside as I don’t know the relationship and what he does in matches. But the image of Madrid is good.”
Del Bosque, a former Madrid Coach himself and a product of Los Blancos’ cantera, reflected on his time with the capital club’s youth programme but declined to discuss the FIFA embargo on Madrid and Atletico Madrid.
“It’s a matter in which I’m not well versed. What I’d say is that if FIFA has sanctioned [the clubs] it’s because they have an argument,” Del Bosque admitted, before assessing how youth recruitment has changed.
“I was in the last century when we tried to get the best in Spain, [Francisco] Pavon, Raul, Guti, [Iker] Casillas…they all came from Madrid and a few, like myself, came from the provinces.
“We only looked in Madrid and the rest of Spain but now they look wherever they can. Times have changed, and what is needed is that younger kids are treated as they should be and I’m sure the big clubs treat them well, safely.”
