GUADALAJARA, Mexico (AP) — Spain coach Luis de la Fuente didn't hide his admiration for Uruguay's Marcelo Bielsa ahead of the nation's decisive World Cup match on Friday.
The game in Guadalajara is one of the most anticipated of the group stage, with European champion Spain and South American powerhouse Uruguay fighting for first place in Group H. Uruguay will likely face elimination if it loses at Guadalajara Stadium.
De la Fuente said he knows Bielsa well, having spent time watching him train at Athletic Bilbao in the early 2010s. De la Fuente was in the early stages of his coaching career at the time and spent the time with Bielsa just before he took over the helm of Spain's youth squads.
"I'm an admirer," De la Fuente said about Bielsa on Thursday. "I've followed his career closely. When he was at Athletic, I spent five or six months going every day to watch his training sessions and I learned a lot. I have all his training sessions recorded. He's been an innovator in many ways. I've been lucky enough to have stayed in contact with him and have private conversations about soccer with him. This is the first time we are going to face each other and it's an honor and a pleasure for me."
Bielsa felt he didn't influence De la Fuente that much, considering the style of soccer played by Spain.
The game in Guadalajara is one of the most anticipated of the group stage, with European champion Spain and South American powerhouse Uruguay fighting for first place in Group H. Uruguay will likely face elimination if it loses at Guadalajara Stadium.
De la Fuente said he knows Bielsa well, having spent time watching him train at Athletic Bilbao in the early 2010s. De la Fuente was in the early stages of his coaching career at the time and spent the time with Bielsa just before he took over the helm of Spain's youth squads.
"I'm an admirer," De la Fuente said about Bielsa on Thursday. "I've followed his career closely. When he was at Athletic, I spent five or six months going every day to watch his training sessions and I learned a lot. I have all his training sessions recorded. He's been an innovator in many ways. I've been lucky enough to have stayed in contact with him and have private conversations about soccer with him. This is the first time we are going to face each other and it's an honor and a pleasure for me."
Bielsa felt he didn't influence De la Fuente that much, considering the style of soccer played by Spain.
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