Spain manager Luis de la Fuente reacts to 2-0 defeat against Scotland

Despite watching Spain come away empty-handed from their meeting with Scotland, head coach Luis de la Fuente insists there were a lot of positives to take from the European Championship qualifier.

Replacing Luis Enrique who was sacked after the World Cup, De la Fuente kicked off his time in the Spanish dugout with a comprehensive 3-0 victory over Norway on Saturday, before falling to a 2-0 defeat against Scotland at Hampden Park yesterday.

As expected, Spain dominated proceedings but goals in both halves from Scott McTominay put La Roja to the sword.

Speaking after the game, De la Fuente was evidently not pleased with the result, although he did highlight certain areas where his side lived up to expectations.

“We are not happy, I am not happy with the result but my responsibility goes further, for the future,” the 61-year-old said at full-time in Glasgow.

“I am not happy but satisfied that we made chances and showed football concepts we have been working on. 

“That is what I aim to improve upon, polish them but the idea is there, and the players are convinced we can work that way, and keep improving.

“We had to score goals. In the first half, we had crosses, set-pieces, and shots, but we just lacked finishing them.

“We will keep working on that, improving and giving confidence to the players – the goals will come, for sure, if we keep working this way.”

Having picked up three points from their two Euro 2024 qualifying matches, Spain currently sit second in Group A and will continue their quest to secure a place at next year’s event with a clash against Georgia in September.

Before then, they have a heavyweight meeting against defending European champions Italy on June 15 in the semi-finals of the UEFA Nations League.