Spain’s Luis de la Fuente had to take a moment after a thoughtful question from a reporter in his latest press conference.
De la Fuente will face France for a shot at back-to-back finals after his Euro 2024 title.
The coach has been praised for uniting the national team in his first senior job, showing class throughout that’s endlessly praised by the players.
But before the semi, we saw another side of him thanks to an emotional press conference.
De la Fuente provoked by emotional question
A reporter from Mediaset said: “I’m going to get a bit emotional and personal.
“I’d like to ask you about three people who are no longer with us. In your book, you wrote that you think about them a lot: your parents and your brother Óscar.
“How much have you thought about them in the last few days and the last few hours? Thank you.”
De la Fuente got choked up as he replied: “A lot. Every day.
“I think about my family a lot, about my parents, and about my brother, who passed away three years ago.
“They would have loved to enjoy what I’m experiencing now, just as they enjoyed my time as a footballer and later as a coach when I first started coaching.
“I think about them every single day. And thank you for the question, because…”
Fuente speaks about his loss with pride
De la Fuente paused as he was overcome with emotion, but then when another reporter began speaking, he continued.
“No, no, sorry. That’s not a reason to be sad,” he said.
“Remembering my parents is actually a source of joy. They passed away a long time ago, and I was fortunate to have them in my life.
“I was happy with them, and with my brother as well. I continue to carry them with me in my memories. In any case, thank you for remembering them and for your condolences.”
The next reporter continued the theme, asking De la Fuente about the role religion plays in his life.
He responded: “I pray every day. But not because I’m at a World Cup, and not because I’m trying to get a particular result.
“Every day when I wake up, I give thanks that I’m alive and well. I look at myself and think, “Another day that I can enjoy life.”
“Those are the things I give thanks for. And I pray because I pray every day.
“I don’t ask God to help me more than anyone else. In fact, I think it would be unfair to ask Him to help me and not help our opponents.
“According to my beliefs, I pray for other things – especially for health. And I ask for the opportunity to keep fighting for what I want.
“As long as I have my health, I have no problem fighting for my goals. I’m a fighter; I fight for everything. But with health. Without health, then there would be a real problem.”
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