Ronald Koeman, the Netherlands head coach and former Barcelona manager, didn’t hold back in praising Lamine Yamal, whom he will face in the Nations League quarterfinals. The Dutch coach highlighted the youngster’s ability to decide matches and expressed his hope that "one day, he will have the same importance as Lionel Messi" at Barça.

"It's true that Lamine is special. For a coach, it's a huge advantage to have players who, thanks to their quality, can decide games. I had the chance to work with Messi, and it was incredible because those types of players are just outstanding," Koeman said in a press conference at De Kuip stadium.

His Time at Barça and Developing Young Talents

The former Barcelona boss proudly recalled giving debuts to players who are now key figures for Spain, such as Pedri, as well as others called up by Luis de la Fuente, including Gavi and Alejandro Balde. "Of course, I'm very happy to have given these players their debuts, but the credit goes to them. Once they got the opportunity, they proved to be top-class footballers. It's great for me to see players I care about a lot. Tomorrow's match will be an exciting one," Koeman added.

Netherlands' Strategy Against Spain

Focusing on the showdown with Spain for a spot in the Nations League Final Four, Koeman outlined his team's approach to securing a win in Rotterdam. "We want to keep possession in their half and press high whenever possible. It will be crucial to do so with great intensity. Spain is a team that forces you to drop back with their ball control, but when they lose possession, they leave spaces that we must exploit," he analyzed.

Koeman also warned about the danger posed by Spain’s wingers, especially Lamine Yamal and Nico Williams. "They have a lot of pace out wide. You can prepare the players on how to defend them, but there will always be moments when they take advantage of open spaces," he concluded. To defeat the reigning European champions, the Dutch coach made it clear that his team will have to perform "at the highest level."