Spain coach Vicente Del Bosque has had to fend off the critics after the shock 1-0 World Cup reverse to Switzerland.
The former Real Madrid boss knows what it is like when your best is never good enough - mighty Real sacked him despite steering them to a pair of Champions Leagues and Spanish titles.
Despite 10 wins in 10 World Cup qualifiers, Del Bosque has now come under fire from former coach Luis Aragones.
The prickly Aragones, who ended a four-decade trophy drought when he led Spain to Euro 2008, feels that Del Bosque did not make the best of the resources at his disposal.
But Del Bosque refused to get involved in a slanging match on Friday.
‘Everyone has the right to express his opinion. I will never utter a single word against the former coach because there is no Spain of Luis or Spain of Del Bosque. There is only one Spain,’ said Del Bosque.
He added: ‘I am here to try to ensure that things work out as well as possible and not debate things with the former coach.’
Aragones has criticised the showing against the Swiss in detecting a ‘lack of conviction’ while adding - ‘there are still games left.’
Aragones, an outspoken individual who was nicknamed the Wise Man of Hortaleza when in charge, told Spain's Telecinco television that ‘the team that won was not the best team but the one which dictated play the better.’
‘It's a bit rich, it sounds like revenge,’ said one Spanish delegation source in standing up for Del Bosque as the Spanish prepared for Monday's game against Honduras.
Aragones's comments appeared to hint at some bitterness over his own departure after four years at the helm.
Although he had beforehand indicated officially he was leaving of his own accord, he later commented: ‘I am going because they’ve not done more to get me to stay. Nobody said anything when it came to it - there's nothing else to explain,’ he commented at the time.
Media reports said the Spanish Football Federation offered him a two-year contract extension before Euro 2008 but the former Atletico Madrid coach turned it down amid reports of not getting on with Federation sporting director Fernando Hierro, who suggested that Del Bosque had already been sounded out.
Spain still look capable of making the last 16 as on paper at least they should see off both Chile and Honduras.
