Vicente del Bosque: 'I have to believe Cesc Fabregas'

Spain manager Vicente del Bosque has insisted that he 'trusts' Cesc Fabregas's reasons for withdrawing from the national side.

The Chelsea midfielder was selected in the European champions' latest squad for the Euro 2016 qualifier against Belarus, but later pulled out due to an apparent hamstring injury.

"We had to wait a few days to evaluate Cesc's injury and we opted for him not to continue with us," the Daily Star quotes Del Bosque as saying. "His muscle seems alright but he complains and he is the best doctor.

"I prefer to be deceived but I cannot be distrustful. When a player of his calibre tells you that he is injured, you have to believe him. At times we have been flexible but not in this case."

Fabregas played the full 90 minutes of Chelsea's 2-1 victory over Liverpool on Saturday, which saw the Blues move four points clear at the top of the Premier League table.