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Paul McNamara

Manu Torres has played down the acrimonious departure of defender Dani Almazan and more imminent high-profile exits from Eastern, saying change is “pain in the process” of his quest to develop an all-conquering team.
Announcing his contract was not being renewed after three years at the club, popular centre-half Almazan posted on Instagram that “some people had made it their mission to break apart … a real family in the changing room”. He also omitted head coach Torres from a list of six coaches he thanked “for pushing me and helping me grow”.
Right-back Calum Hall, Manuel Bleda, the Hong Kong striker, goalkeeper Liu Fu-yuen and Wong Tsz-ho, the 32-year-old left-back who has been with Eastern for 16 years, will also be released this summer. The South China Morning Post has been told that it was a club decision to move on the players, but Torres is fully on board with the overhaul.
“It happens, sometimes you have to regenerate the group, you bring in some players and others go out,” said Torres, after his team lost an entertaining game against Tai Po 4-2 on Saturday.
“We’re planning for next season and there have to be changes, it’s very simple. Cristiano Ronaldo left Real Madrid, and Lionel Messi went from Barcelona. This is the living. It is necessary.”

Torres said he had not seen fellow Spaniard Almazan’s social media post, and he did not know whether he was the target of the player’s criticism.
“I understand [his frustration], I have a son of Dani’s age,” Torres said. “I know how those players can play and I have no problem [with Almazan].
“I have been with the players every day and I know who is who. There is pain in the process when people change [clubs] but it happens everywhere.”
Almazan will almost certainly be on the shopping lists of Hong Kong’s leading clubs, and it is unlikely that Scottish defender Hall, a versatile and athletic performer, will have trouble securing a new employer.
“They’re good footballers, they will find other teams and probably still be in the league,” Torres said.
“We’ll keep enjoying what we do and so will they.”
Appointed in January, Torres said there had already been “many talks” over recruitment, and that he was on a mission to make Eastern the kings of local football.

“Eastern is a big, big club in Hong Kong and it is clear that we have to win,” he said.
“The objective next season is to be first in the league, first in the FA Cup and first in the other competitions. We decide together [about players to sign], so the technical staff and coaches are talking and deciding what we want to do.”
Formerly an academy coach for La Liga side Villarreal, Torres endured an indifferent start after he replaced Roberto Losada, who quit for the interim Hong Kong head coach post.
Five wins and two draws from nine games righted a listing ship before the defeat by Tai Po, although injury and suspension deprived Eastern of a number of senior players against the deposed champions.
Having led 1-0, then been level at 1-1 with three minutes remaining, Eastern finished with two 39-year-olds on the pitch in Marcos Gondra and Leung Chun-pong, alongside the 18-year-old pair of Gao Ming-ho and Ching Siu, Fred Yang Wong, 17, and the very promising 16-year-old left-back Uriel Contiero.
“We can’t ask players to completely understand our idea at this stage of the season, but it’s a chance for the young boys,” Torres said. “We will use them next year, but with some caution. They need good players around them to help them grow. We can’t wait for solutions from them, but they’ll learn from the others and be better players for Eastern in future.”


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Sport

Football

Manu Torres on board with club’s decision to wave goodbye to high-profile figures, accepts responsibility of taking ‘big, big club’ to top


Manu Torres on board with club’s decision to wave goodbye to high-profile figures, accepts responsibility of taking ‘big, big club’ to top.


Hong Kong Premier League

Roberto Losada

Cristiano Ronaldo

Lionel Messi

Eastern boss plotting Hong Kong domination, acrimonious exits ‘pain in process’ of progress

.css-1c6uqr6{color:inherit;font-weight:inherit;font-size:inherit;font-family:inherit;line-height:inherit;overflow-wrap:break-word;}Manu Torres on board with club’s decision to wave goodbye to high-profile figures, accepts responsibility of taking ‘big, big club’ to top

Manu Torres on board with club’s decision to wave goodbye to high-profile figures, accepts responsibility of taking ‘big, big club’ to top