The hero of the Spanish national team in Tenerife speaks to Javi Herráez’s microphone in the mixed zone and sends a clear message to Bayern Munich.
The Spanish national Football team has wrapped up the year 2024 in perfect fashion. They triumphed over Switzerland with a score of three to two, thanks to Bryan Zaragoza’s last-minute penalty. The penalty, which he won himself, broke the deadlock that seemed to be ending the match in a draw. The winger, on loan at Osasuna from Bayern Munich, has earned his first call-up with Luis de la Fuente since leaving Germany, and it seems that the results are finally coming through.
Zaragoza made his debut with a goal and has shown that he fits in seamlessly with La Roja, contributing assists and goals from his favored wing. He sent the fans into a frenzy at the Heliodoro Rodríguez López, the Tenerife stadium where this final group-stage match of the Nations League took place, providing three more points for the national team, much to the delight of Luis de la Fuente and his entire staff.
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The La Rioja-born coach has been relentless in praising his players since he took over the Spanish national team following Luis Enrique’s departure. After suffering a loss in his debut, he has managed to put together a winning team that has conquered Europe, lifting the trophy as the dominant force in Berlin. They have demonstrated to the entire continent a wonderful style of play, where pressing is non-negotiable, and verticality is the key concept of a united group always in search of greater reward. This is the main secret, along with many others that continue to be revealed with each call-up. This latest squad has demonstrated that it doesn’t matter who plays on the pitch, as every player contributes their part.
Bryan Zaragoza has become one of those disruptive figures, stepping up in the absence of Nico Williams or Lamine Yamal, and he completely revolutionized the match in the Canary Islands on Monday night against Switzerland. He converted the penalty in stoppage time, providing a perfect conclusion to the Spanish national team’s match, thus wrapping up an unforgettable year in 2024. However, it hasn’t been a universally good year for this player. A product of Granada’s youth academy, he moved to Germany to try his luck with the mighty Bayern Munich. The Bavarians signed him for his flair, but he barely saw any minutes due to his struggles with the language barrier, which hindered communication with his teammates. Thomas Tuchel was the coach and frequently stated that his lack of confidence stemmed from Zaragoza’s poor adaptation to the team.
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The German coach was critical during a press conference ahead of last year’s Champions League semifinal against Real Madrid. When asked about Bryan Zaragoza’s limited playing time at the Santiago Bernabéu, he reiterated that the player needed to adapt to the club and its culture. “He doesn’t understand the language. It’s difficult for him in both German and English, and that’s essential. We expedited his signing to give him time to adjust. I knew it was going to be a significant step for him,” he stated. The response took a few months to come, but Bryan Zaragoza stood before the SER microphone to throw a direct jab at Thomas Tuchel. “Football is played with your feet, not with the language,” asserted the national team winger, who, beyond offering a lesson on the pitch, decided to be just as forthright with the media.
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“I never lack the motivation to represent my country. I was on the bench, eager to make an impact, and I’ve shown that. My game is based on dribbling, and I try to do it every time I have the ball. Taking the penalty was a display of my character,” he assured. Bryan emphasized the quality present among Spanish players, noting that the numerous absences of key players in Louis de la Fuente’s lineup have done little to disrupt the team’s level. “One comes out, and another comes in, and the national team continues performing at the same level. We have very good players in a great generation, as we are demonstrating,” he said.
