De La Fuente Pushes Back on Injury Hype: Spain’s Health-First Approach Ahead of Bulgaria Showdown
14 October 2025
Injury talk addressed by the coach
Spain’s manager, Luis de la Fuente, responded to criticisms that La Roja is inflating injuries to Lamine Yamal, Dani Olmo, and Ferran Torres during the current international window.
He stressed that the team always prioritizes players’ health and urged critics not to exaggerate, asking, “Why are we making a big deal out of it?”
De la Fuente also touched on Barcelona’s concerns about how stars were treated during the international window.
Injury updates and match details
Olmo returned to Barcelona for further tests after picking up a calf issue and is expected to be out for about two to three weeks, which rules him out of the upcoming Clasico with Real Madrid.
The injuries have sparked debate between Spain’s medical staff and Barcelona, which had already expressed frustration over the handling of Yamal last September.
Spain leads Euro 2026 qualifying Group 5 with nine points, three ahead of Turkey and six ahead of Georgia, while Bulgaria sits at the bottom with no points.
De la Fuente also praised Pedri after the win over Georgia, saying Spain has a wealth of talent and that absences open opportunities for others.
Regarding Mikel Oyarzabal, the coach called him “a complete player who understands the game.”
The usual setup remains a 4-3-3, with Spain expected to field a familiar lineup in the Bulgaria qualifier.
Torres was the latest to withdraw as a precautionary measure due to a muscular fatigue ahead of the Bulgaria match.
The match is scheduled to kick off at 21:45 local time (Saudi/Middle East time equivalents listed in the report).
De la Fuente insisted the approach to player health is non-negotiable, stating that injuries are part of the sport and that the team prioritizes wellness even amid public scrutiny.
He added that the absence of certain players has always provided a platform for other talents to emerge within the squad.
Spain’s defense around the World Cup qualifying Europe frame remains competitive despite the ongoing injury concerns, and the coach’s leadership is under the spotlight as the team progresses through the qualification phase.
Until the next whistle, the focus is on staying healthy and maximizing the squad’s depth as the group stage unfolds.
Punchlines aside, if injuries were a transfer window, Spain would break every record—yet the medical staff would still be the one signing the players back in. Also, if hamstrings had mortgages, Spain’s physios would own the bank by now.
