Jose Torres absolutely needs a reboot to his international career. So perhaps a little “something different” in his club pursuits can become the catalyst.
Torres, the wiry, technically gifted midfielder who never has quite established his place within the U.S. national team, is moving from Pachuca to Tigres in Mexico’s Liga MX.
Torres, born in East Texas (not far from Clint Dempsey’s hometown), joined Pachuca nine years ago. He has generally been a productive, useful member of Pachuca’s highly successful, attractive team.
But at international level, he was sometimes too tentative, too willing to accept the later pass and too content to simply keep possession.
Former manager Bob Bradley wanted a little more defensive attention and quicker movement on the ball. So while Torres never really failed, he never really rose either under Bradley.
Current manager Jurgen Klinsmann has gone farther, actually calling out Torres (albeit in that quintessentially “Klinsi” way, where nothing really ever seems too permanent or sounds too harsh). He wants Torres to generate more impact, to more aggressively probe for ways to slice open defenses and go dangerously into the penalty area. Essentially, Klinsmann wants Torres to look more like a gambler and less like someone happy to sit safely at the table.
Either way, new ideas and new methods and a brand new club address could be a good thing for Torres, now 25.