Sergio Ramos was dealt a major blow at CF Monterrey earlier this month when head coach Martín Demichelis was dismissed following a disappointing run in Liga MX. With the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup looming, the club’s new manager has delivered a clear message to the veteran defender.
Demichelis was let go after Monterrey’s quarterfinal exit against Toluca. Sporting director Antonio Noriega cited underwhelming results and reported internal tensions between the coaching staff and players as key factors behind the decision. The club moved quickly, appointing Spanish coach Domènec Torrent as his replacement.
Although Torrent’s hiring was officially announced last Wednesday, it wasn’t until Monday that he held his first press conference. Speaking to reporters, the former Guardiola assistant made it clear that past achievements won’t guarantee anything moving forward—not even for stars like Sergio Ramos or Sergio Canales.
“What I’ve done before doesn’t matter, nor what Sergio Canales or Sergio Ramos have done. We’re starting from scratch. But they are world-class players,” Torrent said. “We’ve known Sergio Ramos for many years. I’ve faced him many times. Everyone knows he’s a leader, a professional player who pushes his teammates—in a good way. He has international prestige,” the coach added.
Torrent spent a decade as Pep Guardiola’s assistant, working with him at Barcelona, Bayern Munich, and Manchester City before launching his own managerial career with New York City FC in MLS. Now in charge of Monterrey, he laid out his vision for the club’s future.
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“When you take on a squad as good as Rayados, you also have to adapt a bit to them. We’re very happy with what we have, and we’re going to go all-in with this group. We’re going to impose a style that gets us closer to winning and brings championships back to Rayados. We’ll fight until the very last minute.”
Sergio Ramos’ reaction to Torrent’s appointment
With the Club World Cup set to begin on June 14, Torrent has little time to get Monterrey ready. While his name carries weight within coaching circles, it seems he has yet to earn recognition from some of his star players—at least, not from Sergio Ramos.
Upon returning to Mexico from Spain following the Liga MX elimination, Ramos was approached by reporters at the airport on Saturday. When asked about Torrent’s appointment, his reply was short, but telling: “I don’t know him. We’ll see.”
Monterrey is part of Group E in the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup, alongside Champions League finalist Inter Milan, Argentina’s River Plate, and Japan’s Urawa Red Diamonds. Torrent’s debut will come on June 17 against Inter—a massive challenge for the new coach and Ramos’ squad.
