By Graham Ruthven
It wasn’t so way back that Ferran Torres lacked a transparent position at Barcelona. He was one among many gamers the Catalans certainly would have let go had an appropriate provide are available in. Raphinha was additionally on this class. After all, Raphinha has since greater than proved himself as a Barca participant with Torres now doing the identical.
The previous Manchester Metropolis attacker has scored 5 objectives in his final 5 video games. Even when Torres failed to seek out the again of the online towards Actual Betis on Saturday, he registered an help, threading by way of Gavi for a neat end. Whilst a part of essentially the most prolific ahead line in Europe, the 25-year-old is standing out.
Maybe the largest present of religion in Torres got here final week when Hansi Flick opted to start out him over Robert Lewandowski towards Atlético Madrid. With a spot within the Copa del Rey closing on the road, Torres was trusted to guide the road, delivering the game-winning second to in the end determine the semi-final.
Flick’s fashion of play has been good for Torres. The German desires Barcelona to assault with fluidity. He desires verticality and interchangeability between positions and that is the place Torres has thrived. Whereas the 25-year-old hasn’t all the time been a starter over the course of the marketing campaign, he has made wonderful use of his minutes on the pitch.
Solely Lewandowski and Raphinha have scored extra objectives for Barcelona this season than Torres. Underneath Xavi Hernández, the Spaniard was anticipated to play inside a comparatively inflexible positional framework. This season, although, Torres has been permitted extra freedom to seek out area in between the strains.
Torres is an clever ahead who provides Barcelona real incisiveness in entrance of objective. The 25-year-old hardly ever takes a couple of or two touches contained in the penalty field. He’s fast to get his shot away and this continuously catches opposition defenders and goalkeepers chilly. At occasions, his attacking play is paying homage to David Villa’s.
After all, Torres isn’t an orthodox centre ahead. He has performed on the left and proper of Barcelona’s ahead line this season. Torres has deputised for Lewandowski when the Pole has been rotated out of the lineup, however he’s an attacker who prefers to carry a barely wider beginning place.
This might see Torres preserve his place within the lineup as Barcelona battle for a Treble in LaLiga, the Champions League and Copa del Rey. A frontline of Lewandowski, Raphinha, Lamine Yamal and Torres could possibly be what Flick settles on to get his group over the road on three fronts. They might present the firepower Barca want.
As prolific as Lewandowski has been this season, he’s effectively into the twilight of his profession. At 36, Barcelona should take into account the longer term after the Polish striker. Certainly, the Catalans have been linked with a number of forwards together with Alexander Isak, Viktor Gyökeres, Jonathan David and Samu Aghehowa.
If the previous few years have taught Barcelona something, although, it’s that the perfect options can typically be discovered inside the membership. Torres didn’t come by way of La Masia like so lots of his teammates, however he has absorbed the ideas of the Catalan membership to the purpose he embodies ‘Barca-ball’ in addition to anybody else in Flick’s squad.
Barcelona have walked a tightrope at occasions this season. Their method is excessive threat. Flick desires his defence to play on the midway line. He likes Barca to play with depth on either side of the ball. When the Catalans transfer into the assault, they accomplish that with velocity and intent. There have been intervals, nevertheless, when the entire method has practically fallen in on itself.
That would nonetheless occur over the ultimate few weeks of the season. Barcelona’s weaknesses are well-known by now and they’ll face a number of the greatest groups in Europe within the latter rounds of the Champions League. It would solely take an off-night or two in entrance of objective for Barca’s marketing campaign to break down round them. Fatigue may additionally hit them onerous sooner or later – there have been already indicators of this towards Actual Betis.
In Torres, although, Barcelona have somebody who may give them one thing completely different for seasons to come back. Xavi by no means absolutely understood him as a participant, nor did Pep Guardiola who allowed Torres to depart Manchester Metropolis after only one full season. Flick, nevertheless, is proving to be a key determine in his improvement. Torres’ whole profession outlook could be very completely different now.
(Cowl picture from IMAGO)
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