Two Barcelona stars discontent with Luis de la Fuente as pressure builds on Spain | OneFootball

Spain have reached the knockout stage of the World Cup, but the mood around Luis de la Fuente’s squad is not as calm as it should be.

According to Antonio Romero on Carrusel Deportivo (h/t Defensa Central), there are signs of discontent around some players, including two Barcelona names: Pedri and Dani Olmo.

Romero said: “For the first time in a while, in this Spain national team I am starting to see, notice or suspect that nerves have appeared and the family is starting to have some cracks where water is escaping.”

That is a strong statement, especially ahead of Spain’s knockout tie against Austria. La Roja are still alive, but the doubts around their football are growing.

Pedri wants a deeper role

The most important Barça angle is Pedri. Romero said there are talks that Pedri wants to play closer to the base of midfield than in advanced position.

Pedri and Olmo have some concerns within the Spain setup (Photo by George Wood/Getty Images)

That should not surprise Barcelona fans. Pedri is at his best when he is close to the ball, connecting the first pass with the attacking phase and giving the team rhythm.

Using him too high can disconnect him from the game. He is not a player who should wait between the lines for occasional touches.

He needs to direct, pause, accelerate and help Spain control the tempo.

De la Fuente did misprofile Pedri in the first game against Cape Verde to accommodate both him and Fabian Ruiz, but he quickly sorted it out in the following games.

Olmo situation also matters

Dani Olmo is another Barcelona player involved in the debate. His case is different from Pedri’s. He is not asking for a new position, but for more involvement.

Some issues to solve for De la Fuente. (Photo by Florencia Tan Jun/Getty Images)

Given his talent between the lines, it is understandable that his camp would want a bigger role.

Pedri and Olmo are both important players for De la Fuente, and neither benefits from a tournament where frustration grows around them.

Spain can still fix this. Knockout football changes everything, and one strong performance can calm the noise.

De la Fuente has decisions to make, though. Pedri needs a role that gives him influence, and Olmo needs clarity over where he fits.

Right now, there is not much to read into this situation. There seems to be more noise around the Spain camp than within it, and it remains to be seen how things pan out against Austria.