P. Torres: Nearly joining Real Madrid was a positive sign; also linked with Barcelona

Aston Villa will visit Spotify Camp Nou, having won all of their Champions League matches so far. Emery's team has many excellent players, the most notable of whom is P. Torres. The center-back, a Villarreal product who was once closely linked with Real Madrid and Barcelona (the latter now looking for a left-footed center-back), spoke at length in an interview with "Sport".

It was hard for you to leave Villarreal, but you found a second home in Birmingham, right?

Yes. Including this season, I have been with Aston Villa for four seasons, and my contract runs until next year. Things are going very well, and looking back now, it was the right decision.

You are the current Europa League champions and have won all three of your Champions League matches. What attitude will you take to Spotify Camp Nou?

We are not afraid, but we respect our opponent. We know it will be difficult, but nothing is impossible. We will fight in our own way and do our best.

Who should Barcelona be especially wary of? Perhaps Nicolas Jackson, whom you have been reunited with this year?

This year we have many impactful players, such as Mbaye and Nicolas Jackson himself. When there is space behind the opponent's defense, we can play very comfortably. If we want a good result, our defense must be exceptionally focused.

Barcelona against Aston Villa sounds like a classic European showdown, but the last time the two teams met was in 1983. Do people still talk about that 3-0 in Birmingham, which gave Aston Villa the European Super Cup?

Yes. In those years, Aston Villa was capable of dominating in Europe, having won the European Cup the year before. Now we are once again experiencing the feeling of competing in Europe every year. We have done many things right.

Let me ask you directly: what is Barcelona still missing to win the Champions League?

I think in the past few years they have played at a numerical disadvantage in the knockout rounds, and that has held them back. They came very close to the final and had a squad capable of competing for the title. Whenever the Champions League is mentioned, Barcelona is one of the top favorites, along with Real Madrid, Paris Saint-Germain, and Arsenal...

There has been a lot of talk about the risks of Barcelona's high defensive line. As a defender, could you adapt to such a high line? If it were you, how would you deal with it?

As a defender, it's a great feeling when you can catch a striker offside and you see that the whole team is focused. They handle this very well, and our strikers must also be highly vigilant.

Do you think Barcelona needs to sign another center-back?

I think they already have very good players. Of course, they currently have several injured defenders, and big clubs always keep an eye on the transfer market. In my opinion, this defensive line is very complete. Cubarsi has excellent ball skills and great leadership qualities, and Gerard Martín is strong in duels and very good at tackling...

So, would it be easier without your friend Eric Garcia?

On the contrary, it's a shame. I really wanted to play against him. I'm glad he fought his way to where he is now.

There has also been talk of some Premier League players, such as Lisandro Martinez and Gvardiol. Do you think they are worthy of Barcelona?

Barcelona always targets players who perform well for their teams. The players you mentioned are perfectly capable of adapting to a club like Barcelona.

And Porro, although he is not a center-back, the rumors about him are also strong. How would you evaluate him?

Although he plays as a full-back, he handles many aspects of the game very well. He has excellent ball control and a good understanding of positioning, and he knows when to overlap and when to cut inside. He can create many numerical advantages and is very impactful.

In Emery's system at Aston Villa, the full-backs push very high, so you have to cover the space behind them. Are you looking forward to facing Yamal?

In games like these, you always want to play against the best players to see what level you are at. It will be a pleasure to face him and defend against him in some duels. He always brings surprises and is unpredictable, and often it isn't enough to mark him with just one person. You have to stay highly concentrated when covering.

Would you vote for Yamal for the Ballon d'Or, or do you think Kane deserves it more?

Kane's stats are excellent, but I hope a Spanish player wins it. I think Yamal deserves it, and if not this year, it will come soon, because he is very close. I believe he will maintain this level and even improve further.

Rodri, whom you have known since your Villarreal youth academy days, is a deserving Ballon d'Or winner. It's an obvious question, but was signing him the right move for Barcelona?

Yes, not only because they signed him, but also because they took him from Real Madrid. By the way, we have never been opponents in an official match, for one reason or another. We talked about it these past few days, and we both really want to say hello after the match, but there's no friendship during the game, haha.

You must have some anecdotes about Rodri...

He is a very humble person, and football hasn't changed him. He lived in a dormitory when he was at university. Another anecdote is that he was already set to join Atletico Madrid, but then he went to see a university friend. He could have stayed in the best hotels in Castellón, but he lay on a mattress in his friend's room and slept in the dormitory with him. Playing alongside Pedri also allows him to play in other positions, rather than always staying in the center. This fluidity can create problems for opponents.

Emery has been your coach for a large part of your career. Tell us about him and help us understand the key to his success.

His success is by no means accidental; he has earned it little by little. You could say he almost lives at the training ground. He is always the first to arrive and the last to leave. He has an almost obsessive passion for his work and for football, and he wants to pass that passion on to us. Both he and his coaching staff prepare for matches down to the finest detail.

Interestingly, one day at Villarreal, Emery said that given your potential, you should have gone to Barcelona or Real Madrid. And now you've been together at Aston Villa for four years...

When he went to Aston Villa, he was very honest with me and said, "Come with me, our project is very good." I have worked with him for a long time, and I hope we can continue to share a lot of joy in the future.

In 2021, you were very close to Real Madrid, right?

Yes. I think it's always a very positive sign to be among the two or three candidates for a team like Real Madrid. I also understand that they ultimately chose Alaba, who was a free agent. He was more mature and experienced than me.

What about Barcelona? Was there any concrete progress?

There were some rumors, but my agent and I have always said: unless something is very close to happening, I don't want to know anything. I just want to focus on my team, and they respect that.

You have already lifted two Europa League trophies and were one step away from a Champions League final. Is your dream to lift the Big-Eared Cup?

Yes. Sometimes I tell Emery that we already have two Europa League trophies, and now we have to go for the bigger goal and try to win the Big-Eared Cup. It's very difficult, and we know we are certainly not the favorites or a title contender. But if we play at our highest level, we are capable of competing with any opponent.

From the perspective of the Spain national team, were you disappointed not to be in the World Cup squad?

I thought I might have a chance of being in the squad. I had a good season, and the team won the Europa League. Being in the preliminary squad itself shows that I played well this season. Ultimately, it was the coach's decision. It was very difficult for him to choose, and he didn't make a mistake. The world champions conceded only one goal throughout the World Cup. I watched it live at home, and I was very happy that they brought us that joy.

You already have 24 senior caps and an Olympic silver medal, and you're not yet 30. Do you think you still have a chance to return?

I'm one cap short; at 25 caps, you get a badge (laughs). For a player, representing your national team is the highest honor, and I work hard at my club so that one day I can return to the national team.

Who is the most difficult forward you've had to defend, and why?

In the Premier League, it's Haaland. He is very impactful and very dangerous on crosses, and he hides well in the space between the center-back and the full-back, which makes him particularly difficult to mark in static defense. His jumping from a standing position is also very good, and if you focus too much on him, he can get away from you. You have to stay focused for the entire match.

If you could take only one player from Barcelona, who would you choose?

I would choose Rodri because his control of the midfield is perfect, and he contributes a lot to the team in both defense and attack. He is the best in the world in that position.

Finally, name your ideal starting XI from players you've played against or with.

Let's do it. Goalkeeper: E. Martinez; full-backs: Carvajal and Joan Capdevila; center-backs: Raúl Albiol and Piqué; defensive midfielder: Rodri/Bruno Soriano; central midfielders: Iniesta and Modrić; wingers: Messi and Morgan Rogers; striker: Haaland. The coach, of course, is Emery.