Pau Torres (Vila-real, 1997) faces a special match at home, one of those who lived as a child from the stands. Ensures that Juventus is a favourite, but he affirms that the Submarine is prepared to compete to the maximum. Pau is going to face great strikers and hopes to be up to the task.
How do you feel about a game of this level?
I face one of those games that I saw as a child in the stands, those Champions League games, and the truth is that I never even thought about whether one day I would play them. If you already saw it difficult to reach the first team, imagine thinking about being able to play a game of this level, in the Champions League round of 16 against Juventus.
You have experienced the Champions League as a fan and now as a player. How do you analyze that experience?
I have seen the team in all its appearances in the Champions League, from the year of the semifinals of Román and Arsenal, to the year we played and were relegated. I have experienced it from the outside and now I see it from within, and now I really understand the difficulty, the Champions League is the most demanding competition of all. All the rivals are important, so at this point they are without a doubt more so.
How do they get there?
I think we arrived at a good moment and a good dynamic, since we are adding results and victories in the league. At home we feel very good and strong, while away from home we are already winning games. In the home game against Real Madrid, a top level rival, we gave a good image and played a great first half, perhaps the best of the season. Now we have this tie and we are very hopeful to continue at a good level.
And what about Juventus?
I think Juventus are favourites, but I also think we can surprise them and eliminate them.
Favorites them?
Yes, I think they are a team that is more used to playing this kind of games and knockout games. They do it every year and that makes them the most experienced. But this does not mean that we do not think that we can eliminate them, because of illusion and hunger, no one is going to beat us. But the role of favorite is for them.
“Juventus is favourite, but we can surprise”
Paul Torres
They say they are not in their best year. Does that make you think that you have more options?
It is true that this year they are not so good. It seems that several teams are appearing in the Italian League that are competing well with them. Teams like Atalanta, the return of Inter and Milan, have evened things out. They may have started badly, but they have been reinforced very well in the winter market and that has made them grow and improve.
Two good strikers await him. I ask him first about Morata. What does it tell me about him?
We know Morata very well, both Raúl and I have shared moments with the national team and we know of his quality and ability. He is a footballer who contributes a lot, a footballer who takes good advantage of his options and who has shown that he appears in this type of appointment. He is very dangerous and we know it.
¿Y de Vlaovic?
From Vlaovic we know that a team like Juventus were crazy to sign him, and the sample is the financial commitment they have made. He is a very powerful striker, who scores very easily and, as little as you can give him, he can score a goal. He gives them a goal, which in the end is what they pay for, that’s why they paid that money.
You are strong at the back, but in Granada there were difficult moments. What happened?
We came from three games with a clean sheet, it is true that in Granada they generated many chances behind our backs and that it was difficult for us to adjust that. But despite those occasions we have added four games in which we have only conceded one goal and one penalty. We hope to continue keeping a clean sheet, since starting from a clean sheet is how you grow and win.
What do you expect from Juve in attack?
They have people with a lot of arrival on the wing, quality and very offensive players who overflow well out there. To which they accumulate strikers like Morata and Vlaovic, who have a lot of ease both from below, and with those centered balls. And they have people who arrive very well from behind. They are Juventus, it is what these teams have.
How do you see the tie?
Villarreal always goes out to win every game, whatever the rival. We are aware of the level of Juventus, of the team in front of us. But we have already played with similar teams and we have shown that we can beat any rival of that level. We have just come from standing up to Chelsea, champion of the Champions League last year. With the utmost respect, but without any fear.
This tie is the maximum that can be played. I guess they are crazy to play already…
We know that in these matches there is no need for motivation, all the players want to give the maximum and the best level, so I think we are qualified for this challenge. In addition, I think that the issue of goals not being worth double makes things even more equal, since at home you are already penalized so much to receive a goal.
Emery must be at his maximum. How is he in these games?
Emery is a student of football, he prepares all matches very well. In the end, he is a coach who lives it with a lot of passion, he is also a coach who prepares a lot for the matches, he does it down to the smallest detail. I think that he already comes out with an advantage. Being more dedicated than Unai I see it difficult, it could be, I see it more complicated. We believe a lot in how he sees things and how he prepares the matches.
And how do you see yourself?
Personally, I’m better now, at the beginning of the year I’m feeling better and more comfortable than at the start of the season. It is true that I started without much rest, accumulating many games and now the truth is that I feel better. I’m fine, enjoying this situation and these types of games.
Last year was the novelty and everything was applause. This year, more is required. How do you deal with that pressure?
It is normal that I am required, this works like this, and for the good and the bad there is no memory. Each match is an exam and what has been done up to now is not worth it. Every game you must be well and as a player you are obliged to demand more of yourself. I don’t think about that, I think about being well, helping the team and, from there, being able to be well. It is a World Cup year, an important year, in which you have to be well to maintain the confidence of the coach. It is a very demanding and very beautiful year.
And on the subject of offers it seems that things are calmer, right?
I am calm about those issues. I’m focused on Villarreal and doing things the best I can. I focus only on giving joy to the people of the team and my town.
This is Llaneza’s tie. Is it very special to you?
Llaneza is and has always been there. Since I started as a child he was always there, next to the team. It’s weird not being able to see him for a while, we know he’s going through a difficult time, but he’ll get ahead. Every success is for him, to give him joy and strength.