Spain Under-17 coach Santiago Denia seemed happy after a thumping win over Niger at Kochi on Sunday. It was a much needed win for the La Furia Roja after a defeat against Brazil in the opening group match. A brace from skipper Abel Ruiz ensured Spain full three points today.
Speaking on the match, Denia said, "We are happy for the win and the three points to Spain's account. I am happy that we played as a team. But at the same time, we know that we need to improve on a lot of aspects.
"Niger pressed us up front during the starting minutes. It was difficult with the pressure they put. After Niger had the pressure, we could make our passes and we could play our natural game. The objective is to score goals."
The coach refused to believe that they completely outclassed Niger. "No. In the African championship, they played attacking. They pressed from the middle. We had space in the middle so we could make the most out of it. In the beginning, we played a risky game but after 10 mins, it was easy for us to play. In the end, we had players who could cope with the pressure", said the Spanish boss.
Denia wholeheartedly praised Abel Ruiz and said, "It's not the worry that Abel Ruiz missed chances, its the work of the staff to tell players to improve in a certain way. My feedback is positive about Abel. He has in this category for last two years for Spain and Barcelona. He will continue to be good. He has a bright future for the national team and Barcelona."
