HAT-TRICK HERO Isco said it was a relief to play for Spain as he feels Real Madrid coach Zinedine Zidane has no faith in him.
Spain destroyed Argentina, who were without Lionel Messi, 6-1 in a friendly on Tuesday as Isco stole the show with his triple at the Wanda Metropolitano.
The 25-year-old has become a key player under coach Julen Lopetegui and is expected to start at this summer’s World Cup in a front three alongside Diego Costa and David Silva.
But Zidane has not shown the same faith in him at Real Madrid, where Isco has often found himself on the bench behind the likes of Marco Asensio and Lucas Vazquez.
“Lopetegui gives me confidence with minutes, with games,” Isco said.
“With Madrid I do not have the confidence that a player needs, maybe the problem is me, that I have not won Zidane’s confidence with the good players there.”
Isco signed a five-year contract with Real in September last year but there would be no shortage of suitors should he decide his future lies elsewhere.
English Premier League pair Manchester City and Tottenham Hotspur are rumoured to be interested in signing Isco.
- ‘Enthusiasm to work’ -
“When you don’t play a leading role or have continuity in your club team, the games with the national team give me life,” Isco said.
I have the confidence of the coach here (with Spain), I still have a lot of enthusiasm to work, to improve, to be a starter for my club and in the national team.
“I feel that I’m at the beginning and I want to show that I am a good player.”
Isco left the stadium with the match ball under his arm but it was a good night too for Diego Costa, who put his hand up to be Spain’s lead striker in Russia by scoring the opening goal.
Costa had been left out by Lopetegui while inactive during his departure from Chelsea to Atletico Madrid but he would appear now to be in pole position up front, ahead of Rodrigo Moreno, Iago Aspas and the out-of-form Alvaro Morata.
“During the nine months I went without being called up by Spain I felt bad,” Costa said. “I went six months without playing as you all know, but I knew that if I started playing again I would have a chance of returning, and I’m happy to be here.”
Costa had to be taken off after colliding with goalkeeper Sergio Romero for his goal but the striker indicated he would be fit to face Deportivo La Coruna this weekend.
I think I will be fit to play Sunday,” Costa said. “I took a knock, I’ll put ice on it and that’s all.”
Aspas, the leading Spanish scorer this season with 16 goals for Celta Vigo, did his own chances no harm by coming on to score one and set up two more in a flurry of second-half goals.
Thiago Alcantara made it four shortly before the hour-mark after Nicolas Otamendi earlier headed in what turned out to be no more than a consolation for Argentina.
Messi’s hamstring strain meant the visitors were without their talisman and after an unconvincing qualifying campaign, Jorge Sampaoli’s side have now lost two of their last three games, conceding 10 goals in the process.
This latest defeat in Madrid came on the back of Friday’s stodgy 2-0 win over Italy and a 4-2 loss to Nigeria.
“This result means we have to take responsibility and take another look at who will make the final list,” Sampaoli said.
“We have to look for the chance to continue working so that these things do not happen to us at the World Cup.”
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He must really not like his brother.
Think it’s just good retirement planning by the parents. He signs his brother to take over the carers role.
A head scratcher if ever there was one.
Hate to slate a loyal servant but, it makes sense he allowed John afoa to go to Gloucester then.
Does make you wonder!
Not at all, that was a done deal long ago and Gloucester on sacked their present director last week.
NO ONE saw this coming, a real shocker!
Wow, I did not see that one coming! He was Mr Ulster, and I wouldn’t imagine he was anywhere near completing his objectives he had outlined with Ulster. Still, we should be able to attract a top class director. Conor O’Shea?
Big of a shock especially after the transformation that has happened up in Ulster the last few years…maybe he felt he couldn’t take them on any further?
Head coach
Mark Mc Call?
Not so strange. Frustration at the lack of success. By moving to Gloucester is he saying this is as far as I can take Ulster at this time? Is he saying that the powers that be do not share his ambition? What does Gloucester offer that he cannot achieve with Ulster? Shane Logan’s comments are curious, particularly regarding development as Ulster has a single representative in U20 in the junior world cup and a senior squad that can beat the best in Europe but has no trophies. Has the wrong man left Ulster?
That’s a strange one didn’t see that coming,are you any relation to charlize theron?
Hope it’s not a sign of things to come with the new financial clout of the premiership & top14 deals. I had worried about losing players but managers & directors are just as important.
Is it because there are simply too many too comfortable in their roles at Ulster paying lip service to sharing the vision or is it because he has read which way the financial wind is blowing?
Sad day for Ulster Rugby. Brilliant player, captain and leader. He spotted and attracted the best players and brought them to Belfast.
After 91 years you just can’t write off Ravenhill and its rugby history despite new stadium name. More to this story.
But can they afford to let ambition walk out the door?
If David was the director of rugby what was the title for Mark Anscombe ?
Coach
It was probably in the works for a while, but just officially announced today, in case it was a distraction during the tail end of the season. Real surprise though