While there have been significant positives since he arrived, Aston Villa defender Pau Torres has also faced some scrutiny following our last two Premier League games.
The 26-year-old has shown he’s a class act, as his composure, technical ability and accuracy with his distribution have all helped to establish himself as a key figure in the side already.
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It’s perhaps fair to say though that he has been pushed into a more prominent role quicker than first envisaged by Unai Emery, with the injury to Tyrone Mings forcing a rethink and reshuffle at the back.
Given what he brings to the Villa backline with his leadership, physical presence, tactical awareness and positioning, it was always going to be difficult to fill the void left behind by Mings. Torres, to his credit though, has stepped in and done a very good job, but question marks have been raised too.
Having been called up for international duty this week, it’s hoped that his return to the Spain squad will be an important boost for him. However, there’s no doubt that Emery will have plenty of analysis and data to greet him with on his return to Bodymoor Heath once the break concludes.
Torres has made six appearances so far this season, and while he has an 89 percent passing completion and has showcased his class in that department to adapt and settle in our system and style of play, it’s the defensive side of his game that has come under scrutiny.
Aside from being brushed off too easily by Lyle Foster for Burnley’s goal in our 3-1 win at Turf Moor and his errors in our 3-0 defeat at Liverpool this past weekend, the statistics show that Torres needs to impose himself better and make a bigger impact defensively to find a crucial balance.
The Spanish centre-half has won 59 percent of his tackles, 78 percent of his headers, while he has 13 clearances, 17 duels won, but just one block and no interceptions.
We know he’s fundamental to our style in terms of building out from the back, controlling tempo and possession and thus nullifying the opposition’s threat while offering quality in our own play. His assist for Jhon Duran’s goal against Hibernian last week was a joy to watch on repeat.
However, we also need him to raise the level of his defending too. There’s little doubt we’ll see an improvement as he continues to adapt and adjust to the Premier League, and given Emery’s meticulously approach to improving the players at his disposal, Torres will continue to develop and grow into what we need him to be at the back.
Nevertheless, with Mings out for most, if not all, of this season, it’s a challenge that the Villa defender will accept and hope to prevail in, as although we added Clement Lenglet on deadline day on a season-long loan deal, it will be Torres who will now play the bulk of our games on the left side of our centre-half partnership.
Further, with the success that Liverpool had in their targeted high press against him, as well as the question marks over his physicality that haven’t yet been entirely dismissed, opposing managers will undoubtedly look to replicate that moving forward.
In turn, while this is by no means meant as a critical piece of him, it’s arguably clear that there are still aspects in which he has to improve in as a fundamental figure in the heart of our defence.