The Valencian star spoke to AS ahead of the match against Real Madrid, one that can conclude the title race.

LaLiga

Barcelona’s Ferran Torres: “El Clásico is the least pressured match there is”

Update: May 7th, 2026 01:34 EDT

Ferran Torres (February 29, 2000, Foios, Valencia) has already faced Real Madrid 14 times as a Barcelona player.

His first encounter was unforgettable – a goal and an assist at the Bernabéu in a 4-0 win. There have been other standout moments too: a goal in the Copa del Rey final in Seville, and a hat trick of assists last season. Speaking with AS during a recent Under Armour campaign shoot, the Spanish forward reflected on Clásicos and the weight of expectation.

“Everyone lives with pressure in their own way”

With the campaign centered on pressure, he was asked about Diego Maradona’s famous line: “Pressure is getting up at five in the morning to earn a living.” Does he agree, or has it become a cliché?

“I agree with it, but at the end of the day, everyone has pressure,” he said. “Footballers, my father, my mother – everyone deals with some form of it. Maybe a footballer’s pressure is magnified because we’re in the spotlight every day, but everyone has their own version in life, and you have to learn to live with it and manage it.”

He defines pressure as living under constant scrutiny – being judged in both good and bad moments. “But if there’s one thing I’m clear about, it’s that this is a good thing. It means you’re doing something big. It’s about learning to live with it and accepting it as part of your life.”

Managing the mind beyond the pitch

The conversation shifted to mental health, an issue he has previously addressed openly. Is pressure what most often pushes players to seek help?

“Not everything in life is pressure. There are a thousand things that can affect you mentally,” he explained. “You don’t have to feel like something is wrong to ask for help. You also need to manage the good moments, because sometimes footballers experience very positive periods in a short space of time. You have to learn to handle those too.”

Cold water, recovery and routine

Another kind of pressure is physical. Torres is known for immersing himself in ice baths at temperatures as low as 46–48°F (8–9°C), regardless of the time of year.

“I’m obsessed with recovery,” he admitted. “I’m always looking for anything that can help me recover. But it all starts with good sleep – that’s the main weapon. Beyond that, routines give you that extra freshness and the feeling that you’ve done your job. Achieving small daily goals helps you feel good about yourself.”

Flick’s demands vs media scrutiny

When asked which pressure is harder to deal with – the demands from coach Hansi Flick or the scrutiny from the media when he doesn’t score – his answer was immediate.

“Flick’s. It’s more physically exhausting. The coach is in charge, and when he asks for something, you have to deliver.”

The Clásico – pressure or pure enjoyment?

Is El Clásico the most pressure-filled game in soccer?

“I don’t know. These are the games every player dreams of. It’s the opposite – it’s when there’s the least pressure. It’s fun. It’s when you most want to play, when you’re most motivated.”

That goal against Madrid

He recalled his goal in last season’s Copa del Rey final, a move where he beat Antonio Rüdiger and Thibaut Courtois before finishing.

“After the game, I could barely remember the play because everything happens so fast,” he said. “In the moment, you just see the space. You’re not thinking about who’s in front of you or behind you – just about scoring. When you see the ball go in, it’s an incredible feeling.”

Pedri or Lamine?

When it comes to escaping pressure on the ball:

“In our own half, Pedri; in the opponent’s half, Lamine.”

A striker who celebrates assists

Although he has embraced playing as a No. 9, one of his most memorable performances in that role was a three-assist display against Madrid last season.

“It surprised me a bit,” he admitted with a smile. “I even said I took the match ball home – though I made that up. I think I almost celebrated that hat trick of assists more than if it had been goals.”

Dreaming of the ultimate pressure moment

Finally, he was asked to imagine a World Cup final in New York, decided by a penalty shootout.

“Bless that kind of pressure,” he said. “I hope that moment comes, because it would mean we’ve reached the final and are close to becoming world champions.”