Luis de la Fuente hits back at Mourinho: "I never thought there was a hidden hand"

Luis de la Fuente did not dodge the biggest talking point in Spanish football. Hours after his contract extension with Spain until Euro 2032 was confirmed, the Riojan coach appeared on El Larguero and spent a significant part of the interview responding to José Mourinho's refereeing complaints after the derby between Atlético de Madrid and Real Madrid. His stance was clear: he does not believe in organized schemes to help or hurt a club and thinks those who make such claims should provide evidence.

• De la Fuente denies the existence of planned refereeing manipulation against any club.
• He says if he believed in that manipulation, he would go home.
• He calls on critics to present proof of refereeing bias.
• He admits he has won and lost many times without suspecting hidden forces.
• His message comes after the derby controversy and Mourinho's remarks about refereeing.

De la Fuente's response to the derby refereeing controversy

The Spain coach addressed the accusations that have surrounded the Madrid derby head-on. Without explicitly referencing every statement made by the Portuguese coach, he made clear that his way of understanding sport does not involve looking for external culprits. For De la Fuente, football is analyzed through self-improvement, not permanent suspicion.

His remarks came amid a media storm. The European tie between Atlético and Real Madrid had produced controversial refereeing decisions, and Mourinho, true to form, fueled the debate about possible favoritism. The Spain boss chose to lower the temperature with a direct and unambiguous message.

"If I believed in that manipulation, I'd better go home"

The most emphatic line of his interview summed up his thinking. De la Fuente said that if he thought football was manipulated, there would be no point continuing in the game. He said it without hesitation: anyone who believes in organized schemes loses the legitimacy to keep competing.

If I believed in that, in that manipulation, I'd better go home.

The Riojan coach also urged those who make this kind of accusation to present evidence. He believes that unsupported claims poison the debate and divert attention from what really matters: sporting performance and the ability to overcome adversity.

How De la Fuente approaches defeat and victory

For the Spain coach, sport is also a school of life. He explained that throughout his career he has lost on many occasions and won on many others, but never once did the thought cross his mind that a hidden hand was directing events. That conviction, he said, defines his attitude toward life and competition.

That mentality is consistent with the message he has promoted since taking the job. De la Fuente has built his project on trust in work and in the group, far from external excuses. His words on refereeing fit that line: internal analysis, self-criticism and a focus on the next game.

What De la Fuente's renewal until Euro 2032 means for Spain

His appearance came at a key moment for the Spanish Football Federation. The renewal until Euro 2032 secures a project that has already delivered results: the 2023 Nations League and Euro 2024 cemented De la Fuente's reputation as a successful coach with La Roja. The contract extension aims to give continuity to a winning era.

The coach also did not shy away from the immediate future. With qualification for the 2026 World Cup at stake and Euro 2032 on the horizon, his figure has become a pillar of stability for Spanish football. His comments on refereeing reinforce that image of a calm leader who prefers to focus on what he can control.

The message for Mourinho and Spanish football

Although he did not mention his name in the most striking line, De la Fuente's message sounded like a direct reply to the Portuguese coach. The Spain boss championed a different way of living football: no conspiracies, no victimhood and a constant focus on improvement.

His words also served as a warning for the national team dressing room. In a young group accustomed to winning, De la Fuente wants to instill that setbacks are faced with hard work, not excuses. That a referee can make mistakes is part of the game; that a team hides behind that is not.

De la Fuente's approach: always find room to improve

The Spain coach closed his reflection with a practical proposal. He explained that after every match the task is to analyze what happened and think about how to do better next time. It does not matter whether the result was negative or whether a decision went in his favor: the demand for improvement must remain the same.

That approach, free of complaints and focused on growth, is what he wants to pass on to his players. De la Fuente does not see refereeing as a factor that defines a team's development. For him, what makes the difference is the capacity to adapt, to correct mistakes and to compete without depending on outside factors.