Ferran Torres is one of the players who has convinced Xavi Hernández more and better. As AS has learned, the Egarense coach is absolutely dedicated to the former City player, whom he considers a key and vital piece in his project. In fact, Xavi himself has admitted to his inner circle that Ferran’s reinforcement in the winter market has been one of the great successes of the seasonpointing him out as one of the main ‘culprits’ of the team’s reaction in recent months.
And it is that Xavi not only values his quality and talent, but also his ability to deliver and sacrifice, in addition to his perfect understanding of position play. For the coach, he is one of the players in the squad who has best assimilated the concepts and who manages to translate them more effectively on the pitch.
The absolute confidence that Xavi has in Ferran is shown in the numbers: he is one of the most used players, so much so that he has only been a substitute in one of the 22 games he has played. He has started in all six Europa League games and in 13 of the 14 played in LaLiga. Only in the match against Elche (1-2) on March 6 did he start on the bench, starting in the second half and scoring a goal.
In fact, his numbers are also indisputable in the offensive section after adding six goals and seven assists. The other reinforcements that arrived in winter have to settle for more modest numbers: Pierre Emerick Aubameyang (eleven goals and one assist), Dani Alves (one goal and three assists) and Adama Traoré (zero goals and four assists).
Ferran also has 1,778 minutes played, almost 500 more than the second, Aubameyang, with 1,228. Further away is Dani Alves, with 1,042, although he had the ‘handicap’ of not being registered in the Europa League, and Adama had to settle in a much more discreet position, with only 661 minutes.
In this way, Ferran doubles the number of starts to the other three reinforcements that arrived in January, since if the Valencian has 21 of 22Aubameyang and Alves have to make do with 11, let alone Adama, with only 8 starts.
Xavi’s commitment to Ferran is so incontestable, that in principle no reinforcement is going to be made on the left wing, passing over Memphis Depay, whose future is being discussed at the club, and Ansu Fati, who could have his days numbered on the wing and go on to play directly in the 9 position.
The other three reinforcements have a less promising future. To begin with, they are looking for a top striker for Aubameyang as an alternative in attack, also counting on the presence of Ansu as a great threat, while both Adama and Alves are far from guaranteed continuity at the club. next season. The first will not execute the purchase clause, and the second is waiting to know the fate of Dest and Mingueza, in addition to whether Azpilicueta’s arrival is finalized, to find out whether or not he will continue for another season.