Villa reportedly watched part of the session from the touchline before encouraging the current squad.
“Estou visitando, incentivando. Sinceramente, estou muito feliz por estar aqui. Quero agradecer a todos da Federação, com o treinador à frente, por quererem que eu estivesse aqui”, he said.
The visit was more than a ceremonial appearance. Villa remains one of the most recognisable figures in Spanish football, and his arrival gave the players a reminder of what a successful tournament journey can become.
Villa also used the occasion as a family experience, confirming that he planned to attend the match with his son.
“Também estou aproveitando com meu filho. Estamos aqui para tentar apoiá-los e torcer pessoalmente, como sempre fazemos de longe. Espero que amanhã seja um grande jogo”, he said.
Rather than offering tactical instructions, the former forward kept his message simple: work hard, embrace the opportunity and trust their ability.
“Eles sabem exatamente o que precisam fazer, e todos nós temos plena confiança neles”, Villa added.
The report says Spain enter the knockout stage after a strong opening phase, giving the squad genuine momentum before the Austria test. Yet Villa’s comments underline that past success cannot win the next match.
For Spain, the challenge now is to turn the inspiration of legends such as Villa into another decisive performance. The next chapter of the tournament will show whether this generation can create its own story.