[ad_1]
The concept is not entirely alien to him: Ferran Torres has already operated as a forward before. Just not very often.
Twice for Valencia last season, with a particularly notable performance against Real Madrid at Mestalla, with Raphael Varane running uneven during a 1-1 draw.
Pep Guardiola did not imagine a central role when Manchester City spent half of their loot from Leroy Sane on Torres, a speedy young winger with a bright future but not expected to have an immediate impact.
However, the injuries increased rapidly. Sergio Agüero and Gabriel Jesús were absent again on Saturday, as in Marseille last week.
Torres received the go-ahead both times, but his coach has gone out of his way to emphasize that this was less false nine, more front-line. Try to tell that to the Spanish press, who were cutting videos entitled ‘Pep’s new invention: he does with Ferran what he did with Messi’. No pressure, buddy.
“When we can train, and right now we are not really training, he is a guy who is an incredible spiker,” Guardiola said. “He has a sense of goal, a quality to score.”
Torres already has three goals: two in the Champions League and one in the Carabao Cup.
His progress has been smooth but encouraging, with close ties formed with Phil Foden and Raheem Sterling plus the Spanish contingent during a whirlwind first month in Manchester.
The way he carried the opener in the south of France was ruthless and Guardiola believes that, another day, Torres could have left Bramall Lane with a couple more. Half chances came and went, and Aaron Ramsdale frustrated him well.
He’s playing there mainly because of his movement. Getting to the right areas at the right time is a significant boost in recent weeks, as scoring goals has been a problem for City – they have nine of six Premier League games, fewer than all but Wolves in the half. higher.
Rather, they had scored 24 at this point last year. In 2018 there were 19. Twenty-one the year before and 18 during Guardiola’s first campaign.
After controlling the game against Sheffield United, Guardiola offered a spontaneous assessment on their attacking dearth ahead of Liverpool next week. He said: ‘We are fighting to score goals. Someday we will unlock this situation. ‘
There is hope that Jesus is ready to return sooner rather than later; For now, Torres is a stopgap solution.
What it gives them, however, is a different option during the winter, when perhaps Aguero and Jesus need to rest or get injured again. It also allows Sterling to stay on the left, where he has been so prolific.
Torres actually prefers the left, though observers who have followed his career believe his raw pace and outspokenness make him the perfect right winger.
What City have here is someone else who can comfortably play anywhere in between the three. Given Guardiola’s penchant for rotation in the game, that’s not a bad thing. Still, a few more goals would offer them respite.
Source: m.allfootballapp.com
[ad_2]
