Pau Torres (Villarreal, January 16, 1997) spoke for Mundo Deportivo before Spain played against Italy for a place in the final of the Eurocup.
Spain is in the semifinals. Be honest, did you expect to go that far in this Euro Cup?
We came prepared to get here, the previous games had been good, we trusted the group we had and we saw ourselves as capable of going far.
What has changed in this selection of June 23 when they played to continue and now that they play to be in the final?
Our way of playing has certainly not changed, perhaps luck has been on our side a bit. The merits we made on the pitch have paid off. The results have accompanied us to get here, the team's work has been very good and maintaining confidence in ourselves is what has allowed us to be in the semifinals and on the verge of a final. So we are delighted with how everything has gone, maybe we would have changed the first matches of the group stage a bit, but we are here and we are happy.
You have spoken of luck, are penalties luck or work?
I have never worked so hard on them in my life. After each training session, we try to simulate the penalty shoot-out, even the goalkeepers shoot. We have made talks with the psychologist, Joaquín, preparing those moments and any detail that we can take care of in these important moments can be decisive as it has been.
Yes, but here they don't have the pressure of a match …
It is clear that that pressure or that nervousness that you can feel is very difficult to capture in a training session, but the more the hitting is trained or that moment when you go from the middle of the field to the penalty spot, it is also good to catch those feelings.
You couldn't shoot in the shootout against Switzerland because Luis Enrique had changed you, but would you have taken a penalty?
I would have shot without any problem, but the coach decided to change me minutes before the extension ended. If there is another penalty shoot-out and the result is the same, let the same teammates shoot.
When Switzerland eliminated France, many people were happy, but seeing what happened I don't know if France was better than Switzerland …
Now that we have passed this round, that we have eliminated Switzerland, people will be happy and if they had eliminated us they might have said that they preferred France … In these championships no rival is easy, Switzerland showed why they eliminated France, for what was in a quarterfinal. They have been a very dignified team with a very defined style of play and on their own merits they reached the quarterfinals.
Now in the semifinals against Italy, who no longer play catenaccio …
Yes, it seems that he has become a bit Spanish when it comes to playing football more. It is a selection with a lot of quality, with very veteran people who have experience in these competitions. It is a selection designed for these moments of these championships, so it will be a very beautiful game, against a very important rival and we are delighted to be able to face them.
That Italy wants to play benefits Spain, right?
Until now practically all the teams that have faced us have gone back. From Italy we hope that maybe it will be a match from you to you. We are looking forward to games so it's not all about playing against withdrawn teams. It will be a match to show our potential to see what we are prepared for.
Physically, how is the selection after two extra time in a row?
Yes, it is true that the other day against Switzerland we played extra time against 10, but against Croatia we showed that we were one point above them that they ended up very tired Seeing how they had finished the 90 minutes that seemed to fly, then in extra time we passed them above. The coach knew how to make the changes at the right time, the other day in overtime fresh people came in and it was good for us. I see the team well, whole, eager to move on. The illusion and the desire to defend this shirt are above any fatigue or any discomfort that may appear, so in that sense we are fine.
The match against Italy is at Wembley, a mythical stadium. That should also motivate, right?
Yes, they are small steps or small experiences that you add to your career. I am looking forward to that moment, to enter another field that is still mythical where only final stages of competitions are played. We knew that to get there we had to be in the semi-finals, we did it but we don't want to stay here either and we want to play at Wembley twice.
Luis Enrique has not repeated alignment and almost always changes in defense …
In the end, the coach is the one who knows the best, the one who is more prepared or what is best for the team at all times. So far, all his decisions have been good and correct and thanks to those decisions we are in the semi-finals. The 24 of us have shown that we are ready for any eleven that the coach decides and to go out to compete at the highest level. With what he decides, we will go to the death.
Many people criticize or see it strange that two left-handed centrals play
It looks strange because it is not normal, we are not many in football for a club to have two and they play together, so it is a little more strange, but many clubs play with two right-handers and nothing happens. With Ayme (Laporte) I have understood very well from the first friendly that we played together against Portugal. He is a player who has characteristics that are very useful for our national team's game and I fully trust both him and Eric, as well as Diego. What the coach decides will be the best for the team and the most successful.
His season is being, as they say in his land, category.
Yes, I have no complaints, quite the contrary, about how this season is going. Things are going very well, everything is going very smoothly, getting the first title in the history of Villarreal, which is the club of my life, participating in my first tournament with the national team reaching the semifinals, but I'm hungry for more, to get more Titles. After this the Olympic Games will come, but I am very focused on the remainder of the Eurocup, on finishing at a good level, on getting another title on a personal level and another title with the national team and from there the following will come.
Speaking of the Olympics, you are going to end the season physically fused.
It is a very exciting tournament, but it is true that the holidays will be minimal because afterwards I will possibly chain with the Super Cup, the League will begin. But even minimal vacations must be had to try to fit in next season in a good way and at a good level. We will adjust something somewhere to try to rest.
I can't finish the interview without talking about his future. His name appears related to all the greats of European football. How do you live with that?
If these rumors appear it is that the work in my club, in the selection is being good. But with everything that still lies ahead of me, the Euro Cup, the Games, the Super Cup, it doesn't give me the head to think about beyond that, so I'm focused 100% on finishing well with the national team, at the Games, on playing. the Super Cup with my club. I have a contract with Villarreal and in that sense I am very calm.