Guerrero: 'For Morata, it's a blow not to be at the World Cup'

Guerrero told 'AS': ''“If the coach has elected those 23 players then I am sure he must have complete faith in them. Obviously, there will always be players who are left out which means it’s always going to be complicated. The coach is restricted because he can only take 23 players.''

''So, from this point on, we have to focus on those who will be at the World Cup. Lopetegui has many options in each position, it’s a great team and with all due respect to the rest of the countries who will be taking part, let’s hope we go as far as possible.''

Regarding Morata's absence, he said: ''It's a blow for him because the World Cup only comes around once every four years and now he'll have to wait another four years to get another chance and we'll see how he is doing when that moment comes.''

''Maybe, during the past months, some players have been more active - and also have been performing very well, and perhaps it would be difficult to take four strikers to Russia. In the end that was a decision that the coach had to take.''

''In the last few games he's played well but a lot of it is down to timing - maybe if the list was drawn up a year ago, he might have made the cut. But in the meantime, other players have overtaken him and convinced Lopetegui that they deserve to be included.'' 

Guerrero did however praise both Valencia's Rodrigo and Celta's Aspas: ''Both of them have enjoyed a brilliant season, they've both done a great job leading the attack in their respective teams and also, they give the coach alternatives.''

''There might be moments during close matches when you need players who guarantee goals. I’m sure Lopetegui has studied and considered all of those things”

As for Spain's chances of World Cup glory, Guerrero said: ''I think Spain have the ability to go all the way to the final - and I say that with great respect to the other teams. It all depends on one game, during which a thousand things can happen.''

He finished by saying: ''But in terms of quality and players, Spain have that - and a team which can at the very least, dream about winning again.''