Pau Torres integration ‘no rush’ as ‘period of adaptation’ at Aston Villa possible
We’re delighted to welcome Sky Sports journalist Dan Bardell as our exclusive Aston Villa columnist each week he’ll be giving his views on the biggest talking points at the club…
Pau Torres could be set for a “period of adaptation” at Aston Villa, but his knowledge of Unai Emery’s managerial methods may help him get to speed quickly, according to Dan Bardell.
Torres’ is set to join the Villans after his £35million transfer was green-lighted by Villarreal [Daily Mail], but may face challenges adapting to the physicality of the English top flight.
However, with Torres coming into the club early in the transfer window, he will have the time to settle into his new squad and role before Villa get their campaign underway in August.
Bardell claims that the centre-back’s unfamiliarity with the Premier League and understanding of the more technical Spanish league could mean his integration as a starter is not a priority after Villa’s excellent defence in the closing stretch of the season.
Speaking exclusively to Villa News, Burdell said: “It’s the physicality of the Premier League compared to La Liga. If you’re signing a player from France or Germany I don’t think the physicality is a million miles away. But the Spanish league is probably one of the more technical leagues in Europe, so it’s less physical.
“I think there’s always a period of adaptation. By and large, particularly when a player is coming from abroad, you never see the best of them in their first season. It’s an advantage to come in early and have the pre-season.
“Bringing in someone from abroad, you want them to have a whole pre-season and get used to the football in the friendlies. He will play and he’ll learn on the job.
“It’s a huge thing that a lot of Emery’s methods will be similar or the same as that at Villarreal, so Torres will already be up to speed to some extent and maybe even further along than some of the players already at Villa.
“There are pluses and there are negatives. As Villa’s defence ended the season so well, I don’t think there’s a rush to implement him in the team and hopefully there’ll be so many games that all four or five of the centre-backs will get games throughout the season.“