Spain coach Julen Lopetegui gave short shrift to suggestions he may react to David De Gea’s uncharacteristic blunder against Switzerland by replacing him in goal for Spain’s final World Cup warm-up match against Tunisia.
The Manchester United stopper has been in fantastic form for his club this season – named the Red Devils’ Player of the Season for a fourth time in five years and winning the Premier League’s Golden Glove award.
But a huge blunder saw De Gea spill Stephan Lichtsteiner’s cross, with allowed Ricardo Rodriguez to tap in from close-range as the Swiss earned a 1-1 draw at Villarreal’s Estadio de la Ceramica on Sunday after Alvaro Odriozola’s sensational volley had opened the scoring for La Roja.
“David knows that I know he’s going to take us forward in many games and I have no doubt [about him],” Lopetegui, who remains unbeaten in the 19 matches he has taken charge of since being appointed following Euro 2016, told reporters, as written by Goal.com.
Spain have one more warm-up game scheduled before opening their World Cup campaign with a derby clash against Iberian neighbours Portugal at Sochi’s Fisht Olympic Stadium on June 15.
With next Saturday’s match against Tunisia taking place in Krasnodar, the Switzerland encounter may have been the last time former Barcelona captain Andres Iniesta represented Spain on home soil.
Iniesta was substituted early in the second half to a standing ovation after shaking off a bang to the knee sustained in a challenge with Swiss striker Breel Embolo.
And despite a magical career winding its way down to a conclusion, Lopetegui was happy to see the diminutive star of Spain’s 2010 World Cup triumph prove he can still play a pivotal role for his nation.
“The ovation has been won by the performance of his entire career,” Lopetegui said of Iniesta, who has signed for J1 League side Vissel Kobe.
“But the most important thing is the match he has made, showing his absolute validity.
“We are in the preparation phase and we were thinking of replacing him. What matters most to us is what he is still about to give us.”
