Dynamo’s newcomer Angel Torres shared his impressions after moving to Kyiv’s Dynamo.
Angel Torres. Photo: fcdynamo.com— You’ve been in Ukraine for almost a week now. Do you like it here?
— I really like everything here. I have very good impressions of the team itself. I would like to stay here as long as possible.
— You’ve been training with the team for some time. How different is Ukrainian football from Colombian, Portuguese, Maltese, or Australian?
— Compared to those leagues where I played the most—Malta, Australia—here in Ukraine the level of organization and discipline is higher. Ukrainian football in this regard is closer to Portuguese.
— Since you’ve been in Ukraine, have you had the chance to attend any football matches?
— I’ve watched many matches on television, but I haven’t attended any match yet. However, I already have an impression of the level of Ukrainian football. I like it much more than in the leagues where I played before.
— You haven’t had a contract with any club since last summer… How have you maintained your form all this time?
— For the last six months, I trained individually with a personal trainer, focusing primarily on physical preparation.
— You are a versatile player, having played on the wings, in central midfield, and even as a central forward. Where do you feel more comfortable playing? What position do they assign you at Dynamo?
— I feel the most comfortable playing as a right winger, but I have no problem playing on the left wing as well. I can play in any attacking position.
— Some Ukrainian journalists compare your style of play to that of young Andriy Yarmolenko. Who would you compare yourself to?
— Yes, I’ve learned about Andriy Yarmolenko’s achievements in Ukraine, how significant he is in Ukrainian football. But I wouldn’t want to compare myself to any player. I want to build my own career, not measuring myself against anyone, I want to make my own name known.
— You won the UEFA Youth League with Porto. Are you aware that Dynamo’s academy is also one of the best in the world, and the club is among the leaders in Europe in terms of its own graduates?
— Yes, I’ve heard about the Dynamo youth academy, I hold it in very high regard. I know that the club has a well-structured system, great conditions for young talents, so new players constantly emerge who achieve heights in professional football. Even in Australia, I had the chance to see graduates of the Dynamo academy.
— At 18 years old, you moved from your native Colombia to Portugal. Was this step the right one for the development of your career?
— When I learned that I had the opportunity to move to such a prestigious club, I immediately started preparing for it, including learning the language and training specifically. For me, it was a chance that I grasped with both hands. I understood that it was a great opportunity to take a step forward.
— And now it’s time to learn Ukrainian. Have you learned any words yet?
— I know some everyday phrases, for example, greetings like “Good afternoon.” I really like the Ukrainians, your people.
— You have experienced ups and downs. You became the champion of Australia with Central Coast Mariners. It was at that time that talks began about your possible transfer to Dynamo. A year ago, were those just rumors or real discussions?
— Yes, a year ago there were discussions related to Dynamo. And they lasted a whole year. But all those discussions are finally in the past. Now I’m in Kyiv and ready to showcase my best qualities as a player of this great club.
— Dynamo is currently in first place in the championship and is close to its historic championship. When the team wins the UPL, a third star will appear on the emblem. It’s like in Argentina after winning the World Cup. A historic time for the club. Did you know about this?
— Of course. I have long been following the culture and history of FC Dynamo Kyiv. And I knew about the third star. So I want to help the team achieve it.
— All the media have already published your photos near the monument to Valeriy Vasilyovych Lobanovskyi. What do you expect from Dynamo and playing in Ukraine?
— I aim to dedicate myself entirely to the Kyiv club. And I want to help Dynamo become champions this season. Looking ahead, I wish to compete with the “white-blues” for every possible title. I want to bring many trophies to the most titled Ukrainian club.
— If we set aside football, what has impressed you most in Ukraine? The people, hospitality, food, culture?
— I have already acquainted myself with traditional Ukrainian food. I especially want to highlight the red soup—borscht. I generally consider your food to be very tasty. I’ve managed to see some parts of Kyiv, and I find it an incredibly beautiful city. I haven’t seen all the beauty yet, but I will soon rectify that.
— Why did you choose the number 17?
— There’s no particular story behind the playing number. I just like the numbers 10 and 7. But since both are taken, I decided to make a mix and form a strong combination for myself.
