Vicente del Bosque appeared before the media in Minsk on Saturday to preview tomorrow’s EURO 2016 qualifier against Belarus. The coach couldn’t avoid even more questions about Gerard Piqué, but was quick to defend the Barça centre-back, before moving on to more important issues and he contemplates his 100th game at the helm.
Looking back over the previous 99 games: There have been some famous wins, some memorable games and one or two painful defeats; that’s how it is in sport, it’s not just about the successes or the disappointments but about the journey you go through and all that comes with it. Aside from the Euros and World Cup in recent years, we’ve played in two Confederations Cups and 35 games in qualifying matches out of which we’ve only lost one and that was in the final minute of the game. Later came the painful experience of Brazil 2014 but you have to look at what this team as done as a whole. If I had to pick one moment out, it would be the final in South Africa and the most painful moment? That would be the defeat to Holland at the last World Cup.
Would the worst moment of the current Spain side be what happened with Piqué? The Piqué incident is nowhere near the worst thing that has happened to our national team. It’s one, isolated incident which was blown out of all proportion. Piqué is a member of our national team, he is part of our family and we are not going to leave him on his own. My obligation is to protect the environment surrounding the national team and protect each and every one of our players. There have been worse things that have happened to us – far worse.
Pedro: He will play; he scored three goals past Belarus but that’s not why he will play tomorrow, he’s going to play because he’s ready to play. It’s not going to be an easy game; they gave Russia a hard time, they’re strong in attack, uncompromising at the back and hard-working and creative in midfield. They have one or two individual players who stand out but their main strength is as a team. Fortunately, the pitch is in good shape and that favours Spain.