After a hard fought victory over Tunisia on Saturday night, Iago Aspas addressed expectations and concerns for Spain given that Julen Lopetegui's side relied on his 84th minute winner.
The Celta Vigo striker revealed that the squad had already shaken off such reaction.
"Sometimes we don't take it into account, we came from beating Argentina 6-1 and people wanted us to score eight against Switzerland and ten against Tunisia," he told reporters on Sunday.
"[The friendlies] serve as two meetings before a big event, when Friday comes all that we have done in those games won't matter."
His impressive substitute appearance was just the latest claim that Aspas has made to be starting when Spain face Portugal on Friday, though he began the game back on the bench against Tunisia.
"It's a decision that the coach will take, it's true that we haven't used [two men up-front]," he responded.
"I'd like to start, the coach makes the decision. For me, it's a dream to be here, playing five minutes, 15 or 45.
"I want to add to the team, I'm used to playing for my club, when you come to the national team you have to change the mentality.
"I try to take advantage of every minute possible, statistics are just that but I work to have these opportunities."
Aspas was the highest scoring Spaniard in LaLiga in 2017/18 and will be fighting with Rodrigo Moreno and Diego Costa to start on Friday.
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