Spain Coach Julen Lopetegui believes it is unfair and ‘would be a mistake’ to compare the current national squad to previous teams.
The former Porto Coach was speaking ahead of his side’s clash with Israel on Friday night, where he is hopeful of a win to keep them top of their qualification group and maintain his unbeaten start as manager.
"I've always said the same thing: comparing generations will not help us win games," Lopetegui stated ahead of the match.
"In my opinion, the generation that has just passed is without doubt the most brilliant not just in the history of Spanish football, but one of the best in the history of world football, so comparing anything to that is not fair and would be a mistake.
"But that doesn't mean we haven't got good footballers: we have got good footballers, with ambition, personality, desire. Players who are making big steps, but to follow their path, not someone else's.
"Does my previous experience (as Spain Under 21 Coach) help? You know what a national team coach's job is, you know the environment, the culture. You know what it means: coach very good players but with specific conditioning factors. You also know the players from a previous period.”
