Pau Torres already ‘perfect’ for Manchester City after arrival at Aston Villa
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 has shown his exceptional passing ability at Aston Villa but has aspects of his game that must be improved, according to Dan Bardell.
The Spaniard has had a mixed start to life at Villa Park. Expectations weighed heavy on the Europa League winner’s shoulders when he made the move to the Premier League, but many predicted his integration into the starting 11 to be gradual considering the physical and tactical changes from La Liga.
Tyrone Mings put a halt to these plans after picking up a long-term injury in Villa’s opening-day defeat to Newcastle United, leaving space for the former Villarreal to enter the fray regularly. However, teething issues have been exposed, with the centre-back often left wanting defensively.
Bardell has claimed that Torres, in terms of his passing play, does things he’s “never seen” from a centre-back. While his defensive issues are noticeable, the Sky Sports pundit predicts the current “pain” is part of a “long-term game”.
Speaking exclusively to Villa News, Bardell said: “I’ve seen some things that I really like and I’ve seen some things that I don’t like at times from Torres. That’s natural when someone’s getting used to a quicker league.
“He’ll have learned a hell of a lot over the last few weeks. He’s probably had to come in and start games a lot sooner than he would have expected because of Tyrone Ming’s injury.
“He’s been thrown in at the deep end a little bit really, but he’s done okay. Against Palace, he was brilliant on the ball, he didn’t really get caught out defensively except for the goal. That’s a lesson he’s got to learn, sometimes he’s a bit eager to get tight to his man.
“But overall, you can see what Emery wants from him and what he delivers on the ball is like having another deep-lying playmaker. The way he can break through passes is something I’ve never seen from a centre-back.
“If he was at Manchester City, he’d be absolutely perfect. But at Villa, he has less of the ball. With Torres, you will see some things that you don’t like defensively, but if we go through that short-term pain with him initially, the long-term game will be there to see.”
In other Aston Villa news, Bardell has shared a return date for a long-term Villa Park absentee.