Profiling Ferran Torres.
A constant discussion over whether Ferran is a good player or not, I look into his qualities, and why I think he is good- even if he isn't elite.
Note: In no way am I saying Ferran Torres is world class, nor am I implying that he is better than any of the players mentioned here. This is just a simple, quick analysis and opinion-based.
When Ferran Torres joined Manchester City in 2020, there was an air of excitement about him. Young kid coming from Valencia, donning the no.21 shirt. A familiar story, right?
Torres grew as one of Spain’s top prospects in Valencia, and at City, his stock grew. Hattrick against Germany. Topscorer for City in the UCL 20/21 season. Hattrick in his first PL season, one where he scored an absurd aerial backheel flick.
https://twitter.com/City_Xtra/status/1396853690884136971?s=20
City fans had all the right to get excited, especially with talks surrounding Pep using him as a no. 9 in 21/22.
And it started well. 3 goals, 1 assist, 4 starts in the Premier League. Pep had big words for him, praising his eye for goals.
However, midway through the season, Ferran pursued a move to Barca, and from there, his stocks have only gone down. High pressure, poor performances devoid of confidence, and any of the traits Ferran had displayed in his previous teams.
What if this is a case of misunderstanding Ferran Torres’ profile?
How Barcelona play
Barcelona use a 3-2-2-3 in possession. This is wildly similar to the shape Manchester City and Arsenal use.
Xavi’s style is a bit different, though. He prefers touchline wingers, 1v1 dribblers. He does not employ the use of minimum-width players in those areas.
This is where Ferran has been played- LW, RW. Touchline winger. With a noticeable dip in performances (with some good ones), Ferran was even tried in one of the advanced roles at one point, but unsurprisingly, Barcelona looked poor as a collective. How can you put a player lacking technical security in a role of such importance?
Movement
Ferran’s biggest strength is his movement. He can act as an outlet as he’s efficient in keeping the ball and taking it to the next phase, but more importantly, he can make incredible runs into the box. His box presence might not be world-class, which is why the striker role isn’t necessarily a long-term idea, but he knows where to move, where to receive chances.
While data doesn’t tell the full story, it can be used to give an idea and interpret a player’s qualities. Last season, Ferran accumulated 0.45 xG p90, the 2nd highest in the squad, and 7 xG overall, the 3rd highest. This is great, especially considering that he had arrived only in January.
This is a skill, players like Raheem Sterling and Gabriel Jesus possess- the ability to smell goals. The desire. The intent.
But why have I mentioned those two only? It’s because, like those two, Ferran is someone who relies on his confidence to score. He cannot strike the ball cleanly in chaotic situations and evidently thinks a lot before scoring. He needs time and space. Readymade patterns allow him to think less.
This is why he has been dubbed ‘a systematic finisher’. He may not score in chaotic games, where you do not have much time to think, but place him in a team with clear patterns and space, and he will score. Think of the most boring, textbook and robotic goals possible, and Ferran is capable of racking a tally of them.
Notice how Raheem Sterling scored a lot at Man City, or how Gabby Jesus racked up a decent amount at City and now at Arsenal? Phil Foden? Riyad Mahrez? None of those players have the movement of a striker, and yet they register 15 goals a season.
It is simply because these teams set up enough patterns to score. They seek to dominate space, creating desirable attacking patterns- through balls, cutbacks, crosses. Ready-made situations, where all that’s required is for the player to be on the end of those chances.
And that’s what Ferran Torres needs.
Analyzing his finishes
Here’s his debut goal against Burnley. Runs into space, and feeds off the room left by Sterling’s gravity, who flicks it to him.
Rather than a striker, Ferran seems like a space exploiter.
Goal in the same Campaign v Olympiacos. This time it comes off a neat combination play with De Bruyne. He’s scored a similar goal, with a similar exchange with De Jong. Once against, shows an affinity for link-up play and running into space.
Goal v Porto. Torres starts from the left, then drifts inside to score a wonderful goal. I’ve felt like he doesn’t drift too often, but there’s potential in it.
His ball-striking isn’t elite, but he’s shown enough promise there. He uses the right parts of his boot to make contact and also does great to use both feet to generate more power to get a shot on target. He’s excellent at curling the ball, but this also leads to situations where he can overhit a shot. However, this seems like a quality that can be refined. What's important to note is that his technique, for the most part, is good, unlike Sterling or Jesus, whose ball-striking fail to impress.
Goal v Arsenal. This is excellent movement to be on the other end of the chance, but also notice the defence. Poor defending, but focus on how the marking on Jesus has allowed the space at the near-post.
Goal v Real Madrid. Ferran scores off a pass from Aubameyang. Has so much space and time to score. He is intelligent to recognise the space left by Aubameyang’s gravity.
All these goals feel oddly similar, don’t they? Goals where there is not much decision-making involved, where the player can slot it in without thinking, feeding off the space left by other players’ gravity.
It's also inherent to recognise the power with which Ferran scores these goals. The ball-strking can be coached even further.
On-ball work?
Ferran Torres is not an elite dribbler. He can occasionally take his man on and progress, but this is purely because he is able to use his pace to burst past them. He cannot create separation or manipulate the ball like his teammate, Ousmanne Dembele.
However, there is some promise in the passing. His in-swing crosses are good, especially when afforded separation. He has also shown an ability to make cut-backs, or assists through little flicks, sensing space for others to roam into.
The simple things.
Ferran’s assist to Lewandowski feels like a classic shadow striker play. Holds the ball well, notices Lewandowski’s run into the box, and produces a cute little touch, laying the ball for Lewandowski to produce a clean finish.
What is his role?
From what I have written, Ferran Torres has shown:
An eye for goal.
The ability to exploit space when he sees it.
Affinity for feeding off the space left by others.
Combination and link-up play, especially through little flicks.
Simple but effective passing.
These are qualities people would like to see in any forward. However, Ferran does not get to show these as a touchline winger. Restricted far on the right without any runners or combination play, Ferran is expected to create separation and take on his man, something he isn’t very good at.
Some of these qualities are akin to what you’d see in a second striker. Thomas Muller, Antoine Griezmann. Experts at linking play and attacking space.
However, considering this role is rare, and most of the second strikers today (Felix, Dybala, Griezmann) possess a high level of technique to add value in the build-up, using him as an inside forward works best. A role where his touches can be limited, where he’ll be able to use his strength of movement- Ferran is someone who is aware of space, and is a player who does not mind operating without the ball.
His ball-striking is quite inconsistent, but as I’ve shown with the goal against Porto, there’s some quality there.
This is akin to Marcus Rashford’s current style at United, where his focus is less on beating a man or creating, and the priority is to make runs into the box and score. This is also similar to Mohammed Salah’s role for Liverpool, although the latter is much superior on the ball.
Not always an accurate source, but search for players similar to Ferran Torres, and these names pop up. Martinelli, Rashford, Sterling, Salah, Son Heung-Min- the best inside forwards of the present and recent years.
Funny little game, right?
Ferran Torres is a good talent. Robotic finisher, runner, outlet. Second-striker type, inside forward, occasional CF cameos. Whether he is elite or not, he displays qualities that are desirable for a lot of forwards. It is inherent that people recognize these attributes, and realize that sometimes, it is not necessarily the player, but the system.
Great efforts!