Real Madrid midfielder Isco has told reporters, in quotes picked up by Reuters, he is refusing to get carried away despite being labelled as "Spain's messiah" by the national media following a stunning goal against Belarus.
Isco, 22, curled a wonderful effort past Belarus goalkeeper Yuri Zhevnov in Spain's 3-0 Euro 2016 qualifying victory on Sunday, and has been in fine form at the Bernabeu this season.
Isco's marvels for Spain take our front page today... pic.twitter.com/HsahqU0nfT
- AS English (@English_AS) November 16, 2014
Despite the goal, La Roja coach Vicente del Bosque later criticised Isco and his teammates for playing "too artistically," and the young midfielder is keen to keep a level head going into Tuesday's friendly against Germany.
"I like to enjoy myself and perhaps I erred a bit trying to play attractively but the important thing is to learn from the criticism," Isco told a prematch news conference on Sunday.
"We have to get used to both praise and criticism. One day you are up, the next down and I have to remain calm, work, help and learn, that is the most important.
"Each game helps me to continue improving which is what I want. I want to improve in defence, on the ball, score more goals; I never want to get tired of improving."
Isco's impressive run in Carlo Ancelotti's new-look 4-4-2 Real formation came after Gareth Bale's enforced absence through injury, and pressure has been building on the coach to keep the Spain international in his side at the expense of the Welsh attacker.