Ferran Torres has needed to be affected person for his alternatives within the early days of his Manchester Metropolis profession, however his goalscoring cameo in opposition to Porto final week confirmed what he has to supply.
Left on the bench for the next sport at West Ham, Torres will not have been the one one questioning what he has to do with a view to get a begin on the wing.
Because it occurred, it appears Torres’ fast one-two with Phil Foden and burst into the field in opposition to Porto, adopted by a stunning end, may need persuaded Pep Guardiola to make use of him in another way than his supposed function when he arrived in the summertime – no less than quickly.
In Metropolis’s win over Marseille, Torres confirmed glimpses of his expertise in an unfamiliar central function which allowed Raheem Sterling to return to his traditional left wing place. Guardiola was happy sufficient with that form in France to go together with the identical attacking formation at Sheffield United.
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This time, Torres was rather more energetic, glancing a header in direction of objective early on earlier than stepping into the six yard field to poke a Sterling cross goalwards. Each probabilities required good saves, and Torres was proving a nuisance together with his clever working past the defence.
Not solely was he taking part in on the shoulder of the Blades again line, Torres was additionally spectacular when it got here to coming brief, controlling the ball, and feeding a runner from midfield. He was combining the poacher attributes of Sergio Aguero and the extra all-round qualities of Gabriel Jesus.
In consequence, Metropolis appeared much more balanced, and Sterling was rather more efficient out vast – and that is to not say he wasn’t doing an excellent job when filling in by means of the center himself.
It has been a transfer that exhibits how Guardiola is eager for Sterling to be within the space of the pitch the place he can pose probably the most hazard, whereas Torres displayed the motion and positional consciousness of a seasoned striker. As a short lived answer, Torres as a striker and Sterling out vast appears to swimsuit Metropolis’s rhythm greater than any earlier experiment.
Jesus is again in coaching, however Guardiola has warned in opposition to bringing him again too quickly, so Torres could also be wanted in opposition to Olympiacos and Liverpool this week. Aguero’s return might be a bit longer coming.
So till they’re again, match and obtainable twice every week, Guardiola might be assured he now has two strong choices to exchange his two strikers. In Torres, Metropolis may need stumbled throughout a short lived answer that mixes the most effective of Aguero and Jesus.
