Del Bosque quells rumours of falling out with Xavi

Spanish coach Vicente Del Bosque has dismissed rumours about a falling out between himself and key midfielder Xavi Hernandez over the nitty-gritty of team selection and tactics during the Confederations Cup.

The rumors of a disagreement between Del Bosque and Xavi started doing the rounds following the assistant coach’s revelation that Hernandez had told coaches that he preferred to play with some players rather than others, hinting at a potential altercation with the coach.

The issue at hand was that the playmaker wanted to take advantage of Xabi Alonso‘s absence caused by injury, by placing himself in a position where he would have more influence on the game.

Give Spain’s tactics during recent competitions, with just one midfielder being continuously deployed in their three group games, Del Bosque was defensive about the play sheet, insisting that pundits and fans tended to place too much emphasis on tactics and shapes such as 4-3-3 or 4-1-4-1.

Del Bosque, who led his team to victory in the 2010 World Cup and 2012 Euro, told AS that he wouldn’t making decisions without running it past the player, but eventually it was the coaching staff that had the final say on all matters.

“”There was nothing concrete, we talked about football things,” Del Bosque said. “About pressing, this, the other, I do not need to go into private details. How would I not talk about football with Xavi, he who is hanging on how a Tarragona or Barakaldo game has gone? How would I not speak with him? But decisions are taken by the person who has to take them.”

With both Cesc Fabregas and Roberto Soldado missing Monday training sessions due to muscle injuries, the Spanish manager has to make at least two changes to his side during Thursday’s semi-final match against Italy.

Source: ESPN FC