The Spain boss discussed the significance of facing England at Wembley, his selection plans and the demands of the latest international break.
The reigning world champions return to action tonight as Spain take on England at Wembley in the UEFA Nations League.
Luis de la Fuente spoke at his pre-match press conference ahead of the clash, covering a range of topics ahead of the meeting with England.
On playing at Wembley, De la Fuente highlighted the significance of the occasion and the motivation that comes with facing England at such an iconic venue:
"It's the best stage possible and a real source of motivation. There's very little to say to the players against an opponent like this, almost nothing. It's an exceptional ground, a wonderful setting. I'm sure the atmosphere will live up to what this match means. We're happy to be back in action with the national team and to unveil the second star against an opponent like England."
On whether he would stick with the same XI that made Spain world champions, De la Fuente explained that his selection would depend on the players' current form and what he believes the match requires:
"No, tomorrow we'll play the ones we believe are right for this match. We'll try to get the lineup right. There are players who are in better or worse shape than they were two months ago."
On the possibility of complacency following Spain's recent success, De la Fuente insisted that his players remain hungry for more and still have plenty of room for improvement:
"I guarantee there won't be any complacency. I know these players and I know they want to keep winning and keep making history. The hunger has to be constant, and this team has it. What we've done so far is not enough for us. This team has huge room for improvement."
On the demands of the new international break, De la Fuente admitted that the schedule is particularly demanding, with Spain set to play four matches in just 10 days:
"No one asked me about it, of course. Nobody brought it up. In 10 days we're playing four matches, which is a very high demand, with travel and everything. We're happy to play, but it's not the most suitable setup, that's how we see it."
On the starting XI for the Wembley clash, De la Fuente revealed that the lineup had already been decided while praising the depth of his squad and the options available to him:
"We've decided it. All I can say is that we're very happy with the players we have. There are always changes. One cycle ends, another begins... We regret Marcos Llorente's absence, but we're very happy with Eric, Porro, Fresneda... The players coming through give us a lot of peace of mind."