Madrid, Aug 13 (IANS) Spain coach Vicente del Bosque has criticised the decision taken by Spain’s Higher Sports Committee (CSD) to delay the end of the La Liga season by a week.
This week saw the CSD intervene to alter the calendar for the 2015-16 league season. The league will now finish on May 22 — as a result pushing the date of the last two days of the season back by a week each, reports Xinhua.
The Spanish Cup final, which was earlier scheduled for May 22, mas moved to May 7.
The league, now, instead of finishing on May 15, will conclude a week later, depriving the players of a week’s holiday. But more importantly for Del Bosque depriving him of a week to prepare the Spanish national team ahead of next summer’s European Championships.
“The government have not been very smart in putting the end of the season back,” he complained on Spanish radio, adding that he wished “they would think more about the Spanish national team”.
Del Bosque also highlighted the fact that Barcelona duo Luis Suarez and Lionel Messi, as well as Cristiano Ronaldo have been named as finalists for UEFA player of the year. “I think it is a good choice, although obviously I would have liked to have seen Spanish players involved,” he commented.
One member of Del Bosque’s squad, striker Pedro Rodriguez looks as if he will be leaving Spanish giants FC Barcelona after Pedro expressed a will to get more playing time.
The Spain coach said it “is not necessary at all for him to play (for his club) in order for him to play with the national side”, although he also admitted that “playing minutes always helps”.
He also discussed English club Manchester United’s goalkeeper, David de Gea, who was left out of the United side last week as uncertainty over his transfer to Spanish powerhouses Real Madrid continues.
“It is important that he is happy. We like all of our players to be happy,” said Del Bosque.