Spain Under-21 coach Luis Milla: Thiago Alcantara can be as good as Xavi or Cesc Fabregas

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Spain Under-21 coach Luis Milla has praised midfielder Thiago Alcantara ahead of his side’s Uefa Under-21 European Championship opener against England, and stated that the Barcelona man can be as good as senior side players Xavi and Cesc Fabregas in the future.

The 45-year-old is preparing his side for the tournament in Denmark, and will hope to emulate the nation’s victory in the 2010 Word Cup. If this is to happen, the Blaugrana youngster may have a big part to play.

“You have to take major steps to become a good player in the level of Xavi or Cesc,” the former Real Madrid player told MundoDeportivo.

“He clearly has the conditions to achieve it, but it’s more important to have a good mentality. I think he has. We need the humility that they have had to reach the top. And above all to be ambitious.”

Milla’s side go into the tournament as favourites, and the boss was quick to praise his team.

“It is a good generation. It is a generation that has the opportunity to play in La Liga, several of them have demonstrated this and with two players, Javi Martinez and Juan Mata, who set an example for others by what they have achieved at the World Cup,” he continued.

When asked about Stuart Pearce’s side, he stated that they would not be underestimated, and that there were similarities between the two teams.

“They are like us. They have great speed on the outside and strength at the back. It’s a tough group. It’s going to be very close. There are great teams with players who play to the maximum. We will go with our guns blazing, thinking of the group and hopefully do a good job,” he concluded.