Jorge Vilda says fallout with Spain players is a ‘difficult situation’ after leaving several stars out of national squad

JORGE VILDA left several Spain Women aces out of his squad ahead of the team’s friendly duels with Sweden and the USA in October.

Skipper Irene Paredes and record scorer Jenni Hermoso are among the stars omitted as well as Manchester United duo Ona Batlle and Lucia Garcia.

Man City stars Leila Ouahabi and Laia Aleixandri have also been dropped.

And Paredes’ Barcelona team-mates Aitana Bonmati, Mapi Leon, Patri Guijarro and Sandra Panos are among the others cut from the group.

The omission of the stars – many of whom featured for Spain at this summer’s Euros – follows a dispute between the Royal Spanish Football Federation, Vilda and several squad members.

The group have expressed their preference to not be called up for international duty until there is a commitment “to a professional project”.

At a press conference today, Vilda, 41, said “I don’t wish for anybody to go through what I am going through these days.

“I am deeply hurt, it’s an unfair situation that nobody deserves. I think it’s a ridicule on a global scale.

“This mess is hurting Spanish football. It’s a worldwide embarrassment.

“I would like them to say face to face why they have made that decision and why they disagree.”

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Local media in Spain report players as being unhappy with how injuries are managed and with training methods and Vilda’s team selection.

Earlier this month the Spanish Football Federation claimed they received 15 emails from stars threatening to quit the international side unless Vilda was sacked.

In their written statement the Federation also claimed players flagged concerns regarding their “emotional state and health”.

However, these claims were denied by the players – including Ballon d’Or winner Alexia Putellas – who was not part of the group who sent emails.  

Last Friday the midfield star published a joint statement via her Twitter account in response to the Federation.

In it, she slammed their decision to make a private statement “public, in a partial and self-interested way”.

Spain, who were beaten by England in the quarter-finals of this year’s Euros, finished top of their World Cup qualifying group with eight wins from eight games.

They go into their duels with Sweden and the USA with six uncapped players.

The team will face Sweden on October 7 in Cordoba before a clash with the United States in Pamplona four days later.

And Vilda insists he has not thought about quitting his role despite the fallout with a number of his country’s top pros.

The head coach added: “I have to call up the players who want to be here 100%.

“In no moment (did I consider resigning). It would be unfair, for what we created in the past and are in the present.”

Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk