Miguel Torres: A Fans Dream

In a move that was unexpected but not out of character, Miguel Torres has decided that despite his participation in the UEFA u-21 Championship this summer, he will not be taking an extended holiday like the other players who are participating in international tournaments during the offseason. Torres will return to training camp on July 10th just like every other player, which gives him somewhere around a 3-4 week break for the action. Like I said, not out of character for Miguel Torres, who is one of the hardest working players in the squad, and a canterano none the less.

It isn’t normal for someone to give up his holidays…
I don’t know if is or not, but that’s what I’m going to do. I haven’t been lucky enough to play in the Under-21 Euro yet, so I must think about my immediate future, which involves returning to Real Madrid in the pre-season. I will rejoin the team on 10 July, like many of my team-mates. I don’t want to miss a single minute.

Depending on how well Spain fares in the Euro you may end up with just a two-week holiday… Is that enough?
I think it is. My goal is to regain my strength as soon as possible. We are very excited about the coming season because there is an exciting new project in store, we have a new technical staff and new players will join the team. That helps us be positive and will make us work with much intensity in July and August, which are vital months to prepare physically for the rest of the season.

Are Kaka and Cristiano Ronaldo decisive players?
The Club has strengthened itself with great players that get the fans excited. Everyone’s waiting to see how we face our new challenges.

What does playing for Spain mean to you?
It is a great honour and intensely satisfying to play for Spain in whatever category. Getting called-up helps me work harder for my club. The greatest thing that can happen to a player is being asked to play for his country.

Iker and Sergio Ramos have reached the semis of the Confederations Cup. Is Spain the latest trend in football?
I am very happy for them. They are extraordinary team-mates that enjoy their international games to the fullest. The team is on a high and plays very good football. I hope the final pits Brazil and Spain against each other. We all dream about that happening.

Of course it also has a lot to do with him making an impression on new coach Manuel Pellegrini and working on his physical condition, which was not at its best this past season due to two thigh injuries, one obtained on international duty and another an aggravation of the same injury which saw him miss close to three months of the season and put him behind the squad in terms of physical fitness and match sharpness. Torres will look to regain those traits with a normal off season training regiment along with his team mates, although it must be said that taking his allotted time off due to international duty was not going to make him a slacker by any means.

Torres faces a pivotal season both as a player and as a member of Real Madrid. The call to arms after Barcelona’s historic treble can be heard all around Madrid, and with the Champions League final to be held in the Bernabeu this upcoming season, the squad will need to be completely focused on the challenges ahead. Torres also will look for some sort of consistency both in his position and his playing time after two coaches used him with varying success in varying positions. Indeed he is best at right back where Fabio Capello first gave him his debut, but he is also a good stand in at left back and has been tipped by many to be a break out player this season with Real looking for the kind of versatility he offers. Sergio Ramos’s versatility also offers Torres more chances to play also, so the two will look to be the stalwarts of an improved Real defense this up coming season.

Of course Spain’s participation in the u-21 Championship ended with a meaningless win against Finland yesterday, and Torres did not play a single minute of the tournament. Ramon Lopez Caro, a former Castilla manager, showed his tactical naivety in being well beaten by England and matched by Germany in the two big games of the group, and his selections were somewhat puzzling. Bringing only Xisco, Bojan and Jonathan Perreria as strikers, with only Jonathan playing and scoring much this past season was a recipe for disaster. And the persistence with Mario Suarez, Manuel Jurado and Pedro Leon as the creators of the squad seemed to be misguided as none of them delivered on the big stage. Enough of that though.

This next season promises to be an interesting one, and if Miguel Torres’ commitment to the cause is anything to go by, the Real fans have a lot to be proud of in the canteranos who are in the squad. Good luck Miguel and do us all proud!

Category: Team News

Tags: Team News

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