He might be the new coach at New York City FC, but Domenec Torrent shares the expectations as previous coach Patrick Vieira for the 2018 season — win MLS Cup.
“We have a good team. We are able to win MLS,” Torrent said in his first interview on NYCFC.com. “Our target is to try to win MLS. If not, we will try next year. But I think our players have a quality to win something. I’m very happy to work with them because the most important thing for me is the quality. They have quality and I’m very excited to work with them.”
An assistant under Pep Guardiola for 11 years, most recently at Manchester City, Torrent was hired on June 11 immediately after Vieira left for OGC Nice. After receiving his work visa, he arrived Friday night and led NYCFC in his first training session Saturday.
His first game in charge will be against Toronto FC today (5 pm ET | TSN 4/5 - Full TV & Streaming info) at Yankee Stadium.
He said in preparation he watched NYCFC’s last nine games and was impressed with what Vieira established.
“I don’t change many, many things because Patrick did a fantastic job here. In fact, he plays more similar than us in Manchester City. It’s the perfect philosophy for me,” Torrent said. “But every week, we introduce a little bit of change because I like the way in general this team plays, but in life, in general, you can always improve.”
Torrent said NYCFC captain David Villa, Guardiola and Txiki Begiristain, Manchester City’s director of football, all had the same message about taking the job.
“Believe me, Domè, New York City is the right thing for you.”
A basketball fan, a lover of jazz and good food, Torrent said he’s been to New York six times before, on summer tours with Barcelona and Manchester City. Now he’ll be there for at least three years with words of advice from Guardiola ringing in his ears.
“Pep told me, believe me Domè,” he said, “in New York everything is possible.”
