Torpedo Moscow’s new head coach Josep Clotet opened up about the early days of a challenging transition after moving to the Russian capital. The shift to a new country, language, and training culture tested him from the moment he arrived. The initial weeks felt relentlessly demanding, like every day carried the weight of a Monday, and the hotel living added an extra layer of discomfort. Travel to the training ground was lengthy, and there was little time to decompress or settle in. Clotet described the experience as a constant hustle, where rest did not come easily and routines did not yet exist in a familiar rhythm.
After a few weeks, a breakthrough arrived. He secured a compact apartment not far from Luzhniki, and the sense of belonging began to return. The shift from a hotel to a personal space offered more stability and a sense of home, marking a turning point in his adaptation to life in Moscow. This transition mattered as much off the field as it did on it, because a coach who feels settled tends to lead with more focus and clarity.
Clotet brought a varied coaching background to Torpedo, with experience in Espanyol both with its youth ranks and reserve team. His professional journey has taken him across several European leagues, including stints in Sweden, Norway, England, and Italy. The latest chapters before joining Torpedo saw him involved with Italian clubs Brescia and SPAL, experiences that shaped his approach and tactical sensibilities.
In the previous season Torpedo finished at the bottom of the Russian Premier League, resulting in relegation to the First Division. As the new campaign began, Avtozavodtsy found themselves facing a tough start, losing two of their first five matches. The early results underscored the scale of the challenge ahead and the need for adjustments on and off the field.
A former mentor of Rostov commented on the situation, noting the unexpected pace of the early coaching changes in the Russian top flight. The remark reflected the rapid shifts in leadership that can occur when teams try to realign after difficult seasons. Clotet remains focused on steady improvement and on building a cohesive squad that can translate preparation into consistent performances. The road back to stability is understood to involve both tactical refinement and a renewal of club culture, with attention to players’ development, conditioning, and mental resilience.