Unpopular Spain boss Jorge Vilda hits out against doubts over his ‘honour’ and admits he’s endured ‘very hard times’ this year – with tensions rising in his team’s camp ahead of their World Cup final with England

Jorge Vilda has revealed he has endured ‘very difficult times’ this year amid reports of rising tensions in the Spanish national side’s camp.

The manager of Spain’s women’s team has become a polarizing figure within his squad, and those divisions became very apparent at this year’s World Cup.

Spain lost just once during the tournament, a 4–0 defeat to Japan in the group stage, with the 42-year-old’s side beating Switzerland, the Netherlands and Sweden to reserve their place in the final of the competition. .

Fractions have formed on the pitch, with Vilda notably running onto the pitch to celebrate with his players after their quarter-final victory against the Netherlands, but being ignored by his team and also receiving a handshake from Alexia Putellas during their win in the semifinal against Sweden.

While he has achieved notable success since being appointed head coach, leading the team to the Algarve Cup and Cyprus Cup and now the World Cup final, the divisions between him and his players have only escalated during his time in charge.

There have been deep divisions between Spanish coach Vilda (front) and his players at the Women’s World Cup – but the team is through to the final with England anyway

Spain’s Alexia Putellas (left) painted a frustrated figure after being knocked out against Sweden, ignoring a handshake from her manager

On Saturday, the Spaniard denounced any doubts about his “honour” as a professional, adding that he needed to stay focused on his job.

When asked if he felt he had been treated fairly by the media, he said Marka“I don’t appreciate it. I know what this company is about. If you win you are very good and if you lose you are very bad and you have to put things into perspective.

“What bothered me was when there was any doubt about decency and that’s when we went to a press conference and said any player who wasn’t treated with respect had to get out. No one has dated and it appears that the relationship has been professional over these fifteen years.”

Vilda has been at the center of several issues within the Spanish women’s squad in recent years. some players went to the Spanish FA to complain about how they had felt unprepared ahead of their Euro 2022 quarter-final defeat to England.

They claimed they had no opposition tactical analysis and insufficient training sessions, with several stars arranging a video call with Spanish FA president Luis Rubiales.

He disagreed with their complaints, which eventually led to some players issuing a statement claiming general discomfort among the group, as well as complaints about his controlling behavior.

In 2022, 15 players wrote to the Spanish FA claiming they would not be available for selection while Vilda remained in his position, claiming he was ‘damaging their mental health’.

“You have no choice but to focus on your job and do what we’ve always done, which is to demand a lot from yourself after every game and after every training session,” Vilda said of what it was like to work with a team of dissatisfaction . players.

“You have to concentrate on the work, look at the performance of the players and try to make everything as easy as possible so that the group is lively and happy. It’s been two months of work, but I think we’re a team now with all the letters.’

But he also revealed that this year was very difficult to manage when asked to define the past 12 months.

“Difficult,” he said. “There have been very difficult times. I also think it’s been a year where we’ve all gotten better.

Players wrote to Spanish Football Federation president Luis Rubiales (pictured), but the football chief disagreed with their concerns

Spain boss Vilda (first right) was pictured edging a team selfie ahead of the World Cup final

It comes as his squad prepares to take on Sarina Wiegman’s England in the Women’s World Cup final

Spain qualified for the final of the Women’s World Cup last week after beating Sweden 2-1

“If all this had to happen to be here in a World Cup final, we appreciate that as a positive after the year we’ve had.”

During the tournament, the Spanish coach was notably snubbed by several players, with Alexia Putellas slapping her Spanish coach’s hand after being substituted during their semi-final against Sweden. Vilda also spotted an awkward figure standing next to him as they took a team selfie.

While stating that he had not yet completed his starting eleven to face England, the Spanish coach also admitted that his side’s style of play would not change much from what we have already seen during the tournament.