Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola is all praise for young Spaniard Ferran Torres as he eclipses Messi record
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Ferran Torres records his first hattrick for Manchester City
Manchester City came out as eventual winners in a thrilling encounter against Newcastle at St James’ Park; which saw them defeating the Magpies 4-3 away from home on Friday.
Manchester City received a Guard of Honour as the newly-crowned Champions, when they took for the first time since sealing the Premier League title this week. They had lost against Chelsea last time out, but dropped points from city rivals Manchester United meant that Pep Guardiola’s side has secured the Premier League title once again after 2018-19 with three games remaining in the league.
Ferran Torres is now the youngest ever player to score a hat-trick under manager Pep Guardiola
Guardiola had at times started games without a recognized main man this season, and with Aguero set to leave leave the club in six weeks’ time in the upcoming summer window.
However, Guardiola heaped praise on Ferran torres after his clinical goal scoring display against Newcastle, and believes the young forward – who was originally signed as a winger could become Man City’s new number 9 in the future, and praised him for his overall improvement this season.
Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola said: “Not just this evening, of course this evening was important, but his first season in England and his numbers are exceptional. He came as a winger, but he has to think about (being) a striker. When Sergio, Gabriel were out, he was there. He scored against Leeds and Crystal Palace. He didn’t have many minutes, but when he played, he had a sense of goal.
“Yeah, he can be [a No 9]. We will use him, we used him and he was brilliant. His rhythm, especially defensively he has improved a lot. The game at Palace, he makes a turn [in his season] – so good. The movement he makes as a striker, for the [third] goal, it hits the bar and where it goes, he knew it.
“The smell, the strikers know, intuitively where it will arrive. He has this talent and the first goal is fantastic. Very pleased.” remarked Pep.
When asked by Sky Sports’ Geoff Shreeves if Torres could be the successor for Aguero rather than a new signing, Guardiola replied: “I don’t know what’s going to happen. Maybe we buy a striker, maybe not.”
The versatile Spaniard scored three sensational goals in a thrilling 4-3 win at the St James’ Park, showing superb instincts and some first time finishes as City twice came from behind to take the victory. In doing so, Torres broke a record previously held by Lionel Messi, as he became the youngest player to score a league hat-trick for a Pep Guardiola side, since Messi did the same 11 years ago against Tenerife.
The Spanish international has now scored 12 goals for City this season, with five of those coming in his last five matches. He also has two hat-tricks to his name this season as he also had scored a treble for Spain in a 6-0 Nations League win against Germany last November.
Ferran was usually delighted after his breath-taking show in front of goal.
“It has been an incredible week, we qualified for the Champions League Final, won the Premier League and I scored a hat-trick. Very happy,” Torres told Sky Sports.
“I try to improve day by day and also try to learn from my team-mates and my manager. I try to keep improving and getting ready for the Champions League final.
“I always try to go to the first post for set pieces, I flicked the ball and I think it was a very beautiful goal.”
With the EFL Cup and Premier League already secure City now look to win their first ever Champions League trophy when they face Chelsea in the finals on 30th May.
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Sayantan Dutta
(266 Articles Published)