Domènec Torrent: “Now the easy thing is to criticize Koeman, but he returned the illusion”

Start playing in teams like Olot or Guixols, to train at Farners or Girona to end up being Pep's assistant at Bayern or City or directing the New York team or Flamengo in Maracanã at home, how has this been experienced mind blowing trip?

Well, being aware that I have been very lucky to be able to work on this, which is the passion of my life and that I have almost obsessively enjoyed it 24 hours a day for as long as I can remember. I have been a vocational footballer, a vocational coach and then I have had the fortune to come across the best in history, Pep Guardiola. But my case still serves to vindicate humble people who come out of a small town, but who have enormous passion.

And that he crosses paths with Guardiola …

The great luck in my life was that Pep trusted me. I owe it all to him.

Have you enjoyed the trip or now that you are so professional have you suffered?

I've really enjoyed it, but suffering is part of it. I am a calm uncle and if I suffer it does not show me so much.

Does not having been a world-renowned player prevent you from being respected in the changing rooms with big stars?

The basis is in the requirement, in being honest and hard-working. In this world we are to enjoy living football, which is a dream of many people that few reach. That has to be enjoyed. The great players normally respect these codes because it is necessary to differentiate between the footballers who only make a living with football and who are not passionate about it, which there are, and those who live football. In that, for example, Messi is the perfect example.

His last two teams have been New York City and Flamengo. Is football going global so that there are similarities between these two teams and two such opposite cities?

The idiosyncrasy is different, because the passion that exists in Brazil is not comparable to the one that exists anywhere. I already came to Brazil having this idealized football and in some aspects I have enjoyed like crazy, but the organization is crazy, it is common for there to be teams that change coaches three and four times in a season and technicians who manage two teams in the same championship. Now they work to limit the changes of coaches.

Is there still that talent that characterized Brazil or is it being lost?

There is talent galore. Is incredible. Another thing is that the players come out too young. I made their debut at Flamengo seven players from the quarry, who were very good. Now there is a curious mix between many young talents and veteran footballers who have triumphed in Europe such as Alves, Filipe Luis or Diego Ribas, who want to finish their career playing in Brazil, which enriches the game.

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Do you have the feeling that many representatives export Brazilian players to Europe who do not give the level for their youth or talent as happened to Barça with Douglas or Matheus Fernandes?

That's one thing that affects the agents and the clubs that buy them, that don't do their job well. That they sign for highlights Of video. To sign a Brazilian for a great team you have to take into account his way of adapting to the European way of life. It is difficult for them to arrive and succeed immediately if they do not go through an adaptation process that phenomena such as Romario, Ronaldinho or Ronaldo had to carry out.

Do you apply the same methods as Pep Guardiola?

I try to resemble him as much as possible in philosophy and in everything he has taught me in the way of working. Pep gives a lot of freedom to his staff, he does not have the helpers to put the cones. I try to do the same.

Is he as obsessive as he is?

In that we are the same, it is impossible to compare ourselves to him because he is a separate case. but yeah, there are no days off, I'm always watching football. It is a virus that we have inoculated.

Is the maxim that before signing you have to look at the quarry is applicable to all contexts and teams?

It is essential as long as grassroots football is seriously worked with an idea that distinguishes the club. In the City, this model has been implemented in the image and likeness of what was done in Barcelona, ​​which is one of the club's greatest treasures. In that case, without a doubt, the quarry should always be prioritized because they are supposed to work and play like the first team does.

Perhaps that is one of the problems of the current Barça, that all teams play in one way, except the first team?

It could be, it is true that Koeman plays with another system, but more important than the tactical drawing is the spirit of wanting to have possession, attack, philosophy … that can be done with many ways of playing. Then in the field everything moves.

Speaking of Barça, how have you seen it?

Now the easy thing is to criticize Koeman, but you forget that he raised a team that was in a very complicated situation until he had to win LaLiga, something that seemed impossible, without forgetting that he won the Cup. A few weeks ago, on the field Paris Saint-Germain gave an excellent image and good feelings were transmitted. Then it has not materialized, but the work is good, especially because work is being done for the future with people like Ilaix, Pedri, De Jong …

Was it a problem of expectations?

Koeman was probably the architect of getting people excited again in a dramatic moment, but you have to analyze all the difficulties and injuries he has had. The day of Granada was a very hard stick and it disappointed again, but if you look at it as a whole it seems to me that it is unfair to criticize Koeman.

Do you share the idea of ​​those who see Xavi as a new Guardiola on the bench?

Look, comparing any coach with Pep is like trying to compare any player, no matter how good, with Messi. It is a wrong starting point because everyone is going to lose out.

Do you think Messi will continue at Barça?

Ideally, yes. I see him wanting to play. He has not gotten tired of football, he loves it and I hope he ends up at Barça.

And you, what future plans do you have?

I am waiting for team. I would like to train in Europe. There are a couple of options, but nothing decided.

Won't you be waiting for the call from Barça?

No, but we'll talk about that one day.