The Spanish national football team departed their Chattanooga training camp on Wednesday afternoon to travel to Los Angeles ahead of their World Cup last-32 knockout match against Austria on Thursday.
Before leaving Tennessee, local fans gathered outside the team hotel trying to catch a final glimpse of the squad.
"I've been here three weeks. I know you've seen me!"
stated a placard held by a young fan outside the fence.
Another supporter displayed a message seeking interaction from the players before departure. "Please come out!"
read the second placard.
Midfielder Fabian Ruiz addressed the external discussions surrounding the team performance and tactical choices as they prepare for the knockout stage.
"Sometimes things don't go the way we would like; we're working to ensure they do," said Fabian Ruiz, Spain midfielder.
The Paris Saint-Germain player recovered from a long-term injury during the club season to regain full match fitness for the tournament.
"It has been hard to get my pace and rhythm back, but I am 100% now," said Fabian Ruiz.
The midfielder noted that multiple players faced extended recovery periods prior to arriving at the tournament base.
"I think they're 100%, but I can only speak for myself: I feel in good form.
There were long-term injuries and it is true that to start with it is hard to get up to pace and adapt when you come back.
I struggled with that, but by the time I got here, I had played various games in a row for PSG at the highest level without having to stop.
The injury has been forgotten," said Fabian Ruiz.
Regarding midfield combinations and the pace of play with teammate Pedri, Ruiz downplayed external tactical concerns.
"I don't think it's about Pedri's position [that means] the game is slower," said Fabian Ruiz.
Ruiz explained that the internal perspective of the squad focuses heavily on mutual support rather than individual starting roles.
"From the outside I don't know how people look at it. On the inside we see it as something that's totally natural.
We know that any of the central midfielders can play. We can play together or separately, it doesn't matter.
It's not important who plays, it's important that we support each other," said Fabian Ruiz.
He reiterated that the tactical philosophy of the team remains consistent regardless of personnel changes on the pitch.
"I don't think it changes anything.
The idea we have is the same and we all have the ability to make that idea work.
We have different characteristics, but at a collective level the idea is the same," said Fabian Ruiz.
Spain head coach Luis de la Fuente previously praised the understated midfielder, whose starting role has fluctuated during the group stage.
"If his name wasn't Fabián, everyone would talk about him more," said Luis de la Fuente.
The manager expressed immense confidence in his available selection choices for the tournament midfield positions.
"The six best midfielders in the world," said Luis de la Fuente.
The winner of Thursday's matchup in Los Angeles will advance to the next round of the tournament, with Texas scheduled as the next potential destination.
