Luis de la Fuente defends Ferran Torres despite his misses at Wembley
When Spain turned the tables on England 2-3 at Wembley on Saturday night, Ferran Torres, however in fine form with Paris Saint‑Germain, missed several decisive chances, prompting criticism that his manager Luis de la Fuente immediately refuted in the media.
Form at PSG and against England
Since his arrival at Paris Saint‑Germain, Ferran Torres has shown a fearsome efficiency. His first seven shots on target resulted in seven goals, demonstrating rare precision. This run has fueled the hopes of his supporters, who expect the same ease from him at international level.
On Saturday night, during the Nations League at Wembley, the same ease did not follow Ferran Torres. Despite the two‑minute lead for the Roja, he did not find the back of the net. His attempts resulted in a goal ruled out for off‑side in the ninth minute and two missed strikes in one‑on‑one situations with the English goalkeeper.
The two decisive chances came in the sixteenth and twenty‑seventh minutes. First, he shot directly at the English goalkeeper, then he curled his shot, leaving it out of reach. These misses contrast sharply with his usual first‑time efficiency.
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Luis de la Fuente's defence
Asked about these difficulties, Luis de la Fuente chose to defend his striker. He compared Ferran to Hugo Sanchez, Real Madrid legend, recalling that the Mexican always scored from the first touch. “Hugo Sanchez was crowned Pichichi one year by scoring all his goals from the first touch of the ball. The important thing is that the ball ends up in the net. Ferran is a scorer, but those who create many chances also miss chances, otherwise the goals would be endless,” the manager said.
Despite the lack of a goal at Wembley, Luis de la Fuente praised Torres’s involvement in the collective play. “I am delighted with Ferran’s performance and Oyarzabal’s goal is also the result of the groundwork done by his teammate. It is a team effort, and everyone benefits from what others do,” he added. The 26‑year‑old, born in Valencia, continues to play under the colours of Paris Saint‑Germain while remaining a key asset for the Roja.
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The contrast between near‑perfect efficiency at PSG and missed chances at international level shows that the match context heavily influences Ferran Torres’s decision‑making. This duality suggests that his role within the Roja could evolve, depending on the tactical adjustments his coach deems necessary.