Spain national team coach Luis de la Fuente (62) talked about Pablo Gabi (19, Barcelona), who went down with the worst injury of his career. He said Gabi’s injury could have happened to any other player.
“Luis de la Fuente, head coach of the Spanish national team, said that this was the most bitter victory of his life,” Spain’s Sport reported on Tuesday, citing De la Fuente’s press conference.
The Spanish national team defeated Georgia 3-1 in the 10th round of the European Football Association (UEFA) Euro 2024 Group A match at the Estadio Munisipal Jose Sorolla in Villadolid, Spain, at 4:45 a.m. on Tuesday.With the win, Spain added three points to its tally and moved four points clear of second-place Scotland. But it was not all smiles. Pablo Gabi, a key midfielder for Spain and FC Barcelona, went down with a major injury: a torn anterior cruciate ligament.
Earlier in the day, Barcelona announced on the club’s official website, “Gabi’s situation is not good. Tests have revealed that he has a complete rupture of his right cruciate ligament and also has an injury to his meniscus. He is expected to be out for the season.
Before the test results were officially announced, De La Fuente said: “We are waiting for the test results and the player is keeping calm. It was the most bitter and heartbreaking victory of my life. Me and the coaching staff are all on the same page. I hope the injury is as minor as possible.”
“It’s a very difficult moment for me, the club and the Spanish national team. It’s like losing a game. The moment Gabi went down with the injury, we were devastated. Football is a dangerous sport with the possibility of injury. It was not something we could control. I feel very sorry for the player. He is very dejected.”
He said, “I don’t know why this has to happen to us. We often think we’re a very strong team, but we’re just fragile human beings. The atmosphere in the locker room after the game was like a funeral,” he said, describing the mood.
De la Fuente added: “It had nothing to do with the collision. It had to do with controlling the ball. It was an accident. Gabi didn’t play the weekend game and was in good shape. What happened to him could have happened to any other player.”
Meanwhile, according to Spain’s Mundo Deportivo, shortly after going down with the injury, Gabby appeared to be in denial about the injury, repeating the words “No, no, why me?”