At the Embassy Suites on Broad Street in downtown Chattanooga, the vans have departed for the final time. The day before their exit, a group of eager children had climbed barriers and trees, hoping for a glimpse of Spain’s national players. One young girl, standing on a ladder, held two placards aloft over the fence. One read: “I’ve been here three weeks. I know you’ve seen me!” The other pleaded: “Sometimes things don’t go the way we would like; we’re working to ensure they do.” On Wednesday afternoon, local time in Tennessee, the players made their appearance, but they will not return again.
Spain is leaving their training base and heading to Los Angeles, with hopes of continuing on to Dallas if all goes according to plan. However, they depart with more uncertainties than when the World Cup began. Fabián Ruiz notes that while the outside perception may be one of doubt, the atmosphere is different within the training facility where their last session concluded before taking flight.
Fabián tends to be succinct in his remarks, and he often emphasizes the word: natural. He believes discussions about the team’s issues should be left to others. Nonetheless, he acknowledges.
“If his name wasn’t Fabián, everyone would talk about him more,”
Concerns Surrounding Team Dynamics
The beginning of the tournament for Spain was heavily influenced by the fitness concerns surrounding Lamine Yamal, an 18-year-old who has already become a national icon but has been sidelined since April. It seems that many were waiting for his return before the team could truly begin to function. All four of the wingers have faced their own challenges, which strikes at the core of Spain’s identity and the reimagined tiki-taka style that coach Luis de la Fuente has implemented. The midfield situation poses similar challenges, and that’s where Fabián’s role becomes crucial.
Since the opening match against Cape Verde, Fabián has not been a starter. His exclusion has sometimes felt somewhat justified. “the six best midfielders in the world” De la Fuente once expressed. Perhaps if Fabián were more vocal about his contributions, he would receive more attention, but that’s not his style. He is soft-spoken and often overlooked, yet he recently joked about the need for a TV station to subtitle him after another channel did the same for his mother in a documentary. Chari Peña, his mother, speaks with a strong Andalucían accent, and Fabián takes great pride in both her and their heritage.
Personal Journey and Achievements
Hailing from the small town of Los Palacios, known for its production of bumper cars, wicker chairs, and tomatoes, Chari raised Fabián alone while working as a cleaner at the same training facility where he developed through the Betis youth system. Often, she would take him to training sessions at dawn, leaving him asleep in the car while she worked before returning to wake him for practice. Everything Fabián has achieved is for her, he asserts. His accomplishments are significant: he is a three-time European champion, having won Euro 24, where he was arguably Spain’s standout player, as well as the last two Champions Leagues with Paris Saint-Germain.
De la Fuente has boasted that Spain possesses “It has been hard to get my pace and rhythm back but I am 100% now,” a statement typical of him. The challenge lies in figuring out how to effectively integrate them all into the lineup. Additionally, there are concerns regarding the fitness of players like Nico Williams and Lamine Yamal, as well as Mikel Merino and Fabián, who have all struggled with injuries this season.
“I think they’re 100% but I can only speak for myself: I feel in good form. There were long-term injuries and it is true that to start with it is hard to get up to pace and adapt when you come back: I struggled with that. But by the time I got here, I had played various games in a row for PSG at the highest level without having to stop; the injury has been forgotten.” Fabián affirms. “I don’t think it’s about Pedri’s position [that means] the game is slower. “From the outside I don’t know how people look at it; on the inside we see it as something that’s totally natural. We know that any of the central midfielders can play. We can play together or separately, it doesn’t matter. It’s not important who plays; it’s important that we support each other. And I don’t think it changes anything. The idea we have is the same and we all have the ability to make that idea work. We have different characteristics but I think at a collective level the idea is the same.”
Midfield Strategy and Team Cohesion
During the World Cup, both Pedri and Rodri have been consistent starters. The immediate question is who will play alongside them. Fabián started in the first match but has alternated with Dani Olmo and Merino in subsequent games. His inclusion necessitated a shift from De la Fuente’s favored 4-2-3-1 formation to a 4-3-3 setup, or a repositioning of Pedri, who found it challenging to dictate the pace of the game in a higher role. While Fabián’s exit from the lineup seemed influenced by tactical decisions rather than solely performance, he insists.
“Álvaro and Dani were two very important captains for us and had a lot of weight in the team,”
“But there are others who have the experience. The captains. Rodri, the first captain. Unai Simon. Mikel Oyarzabal who seems shy but he is someone you listen to, someone who is imposing when he talks because he always has the right opinion. Aymeric Laporte, too.”
Leadership dynamics have also evolved. During the European Championship, Spain relied on a trio of key figures: Álvaro Morata, who led with empathy; Dani Carvajal, who brought competitiveness and character; and Rodri, who provided footballing insight. Currently, only Rodri remains.
“I’ve always said I am reserved. I am not someone who much likes to show his face in public, to speak much, but within the group I always give my little bit to help my teammates, especially the younger ones. “Whatever the manager decides, we’re totally ready to help the team on the pitch or off it. The best thing about this team is the family we are. We trust in what we’re doing. We’re 100% now and we hope we can show it.” Fabián shares. “But there are others who have the experience. The captains. Rodri, the first captain. Unai Simon. Mikel Oyarzabal, who seems shy but is someone you listen to; he has a commanding presence when he speaks because he always provides valuable insights. Aymeric Laporte, too.”
What about Fabián himself? After all, he has two consecutive Champions League titles to his name. “Well …” he begins, which speaks volumes. “I’ve always said I am reserved. I am not someone who enjoys being in the spotlight or speaking much in public, but within the group, I always contribute my share to support my teammates, especially the younger ones.”
“Whatever the manager decides, we’re totally ready to help the team on the pitch or off it. The best thing about this team is the family we are. We trust in what we’re doing. We’re 100% now and we hope we can show it.”
