Spain manager Luis de la Fuente is betting big on the intangible stuff ahead of his team’s World Cup opener against Cape Verde — and the name he keeps circling back to is Gavi. While other coaches might obsess over formations or fitness stats, de la Fuente is laser-focused on something far less quantifiable: pure, infectious motivation.
Speaking ahead of the Group H kickoff, de la Fuente couldn’t hold back his excitement about the Barcelona midfielder’s influence in camp. Spain enters this tournament riding the high of a EURO 2024 triumph, but the boss knows reputations don’t win matches.
“I wish you could have seen how he’s training,” de la Fuente said. “He’s so enthusiastic. There’s an important aspect, aside from the footballing side and the players’ fitness, that’s motivation. And motivation can sometimes turn any situation around. Sometimes it’s positive, and when you’re feeling down, it can be negative. But Gavi is a very important player because he has fantastic energy.”
That energy, according to de la Fuente, isn’t limited to the 20-year-old’s own performances. It’s actively reshaping how the entire squad approaches its work. “He demands a lot from the rest of his teammates. He demands a lot because he trains with such energy, vitality, and enthusiasm — and that’s contagious,” de la Fuente added. “It’s a spirit that defines and shapes the identity of this group. There are players who are constantly pushing themselves. And that’s very good for the team because they never stop striving to improve.”
The praise for Gavi comes as Spain prepares to face Cape Verde, a team that has shown steady improvement but remains a clear underdog against the reigning European champions. Still, de la Fuente isn’t taking anything for granted. The real concern for Spain — and for much of the football world — has been the fitness of teenage sensation Lamine Yamal.
Yamal, still just 18, has been dealing with an injury that threatened to derail his World Cup. De la Fuente admitted the situation was serious enough to cause real worry behind the scenes. “We were very worried because we saw it was an injury that could not keep him out for three months, or even two, but that month and a half could certainly be extended,” the manager explained.
But recent progress has been nothing short of remarkable. “The timelines we’re seeing are exceptional, both in terms of the prediction and the quality of his recovery. And we’re all — not surprised, but very happy,” de la Fuente said. “Very happy because we’re seeing that the recovery is progressing faster, he’s feeling better every day. And that leads us to believe that he’ll be perfectly fit for the first match.”
If Yamal is indeed ready to go, Spain will boast a frightening blend of youthful exuberance and tournament-tested resolve. Gavi sets the emotional tone, and Yamal provides the game-breaking spark. For a team that already owns the continental crown, that combination could be the difference between another deep run and an early upset.
Group H kicks off Wednesday, and all eyes will be on how Spain handles the pressure of being favorites from the jump.
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