Fernando Torres

[dodojojo 510]

I doubt Drogba and Anelka are giving him wedgies. More likely having Malouda do it while they watch.

Voyeurs

[Term-X 7,891]

He also said he had been surprised at how easy it had been for him to settle in with his new team mates. "I expected something more distant with a team full of stars," Torres said. "There are more personal relationships and jokes between the players than there were at Liverpool. Everything was much more serious there. Here, you don't have to prove you are a professional, it is assumed."

Torres dissing liverpool..

http://www.guardian....+%28Football%29

[Tortilla9 390]

Torres dissing liverpool..

http://www.guardian....+%28Football%29

Cue RAWK meltdown.

[dodojojo 510]

It's difficult because the press, particularly the Spanish, will keep asking him about Liverpool, but for his own sake, he should go radio silent on this matter. I have no doubts that there are some tales he can share but at this point, anything he says will only bring on a barrage of criticism. Let's face it, other than him going on his knees and begging for forgiveness and even that would not be enough, Liverpool fans are always going think the worse of anything he says.

Though again, has he said anything that wasn’t true about Liverpool FC? Was the club not in some dire shit for the past 3 years because of the owner situation? The fans can stick with the club for a lifetime, Torres’ remaining top years can be counted on one hand. He’s not loud, his ‘fault’ here is that he’s blunt.

[dodojojo 510]

For the Spanish speakers/readers, here's the Q&A with Marca so you're not reading the English's press interpretation or selective highlights. I googled translated it and though it's not perfect, I got the gist of it.

Entrevista MARCA a Fernando Torres

Tranquilo, seguro de haber hecho lo correcto y cargado de ilusiones. Así está el 9 del Chelsea. Torres compartió una hora de charla con MARCA pasando revista a su pasado, su presente y su futuro:

- Ya lleva dos meses en Londres ¿Cómo le va?

Poco a poco. Es un gran cambio, una gran ciudad… Estoy de papeleos, con las semanas bastante ocupadas, pero muy contento.

- ¿Es el cambio que esperaba en su carrera?

Nunca se sabe. Cuando me fui de mi casa pensé que era el cambio definitivo, y cuando ha pasado el tiempo no ha sido así. Se presenta una oportunidad y nunca sabes si es la última. Tienes que dar todo lo que tienes para conseguir ese sueño. Ahora tengo cinco años y medio por delante para luchar por lo que quiero.

- ¿Dónde están esos sueños.

Creo que mucho más cerca. La ciudad y el club me dan todo lo que necesito para conseguirlo. Fue una decisión muy meditada aunque pareciera todo muy precipitado. Se tomó mucho antes.

- ¿En qué momento?

En el verano que se va Xabi Alonso me empiezo a hacer preguntas. En Liverpool pasé mis tres mejores años como profesional y tal vez en lo personal. No me preguntaba qué iba a pasar y pensaba que estaba en un gran club que con el tiempo ganaría. Cuando se fueron Xabi, Mascherano, antes Crouch y Arbeloa, no venían refuerzos, y me preguntaba si el Liverpool era el club que decía su historia o era un equipo vendedor. Me decían que no se vendía a nadie y yo rechacé una oferta del Chelsea en verano. Entendí los motivos del Liverpool para no dejarme salir, aun sabiendo que dejaba pasar una situación que no podía darse más. El club no era lo mismo, no iba hacia donde yo creía y vi que hacía falta un cambio.

- ¿Tuvo claro siempre que ese cambio era el Chelsea?

¿A qué equipos podía ir para mejorar? Al United no, por respeto al Liverpool; al Madrid no, por mi pasado; el Barça no creo que necesite a nadie; Italia no me apetecía… Sólo me quedaba el Chelsea. Y de repente, un día, a 20 días del final del mercado, pasó. No me lo esperaba y fue como una luz de un pasillo que venía negro. Pensaba que los seis meses que me quedaban en el Liverpool iban a ser como tres años. Esta vez tuve dos oportunidades.

- ¿Con quién habla del ‘Pool’?

Cuando sé que el Chelsea me quiere, hablo con el director deportivo y luego pido reunirme con todo el cuerpo técnico para decirle que me gustaría salir. Mis compañeros no supieron nada. Y quise ser honesto. Si otros no lo han sido, no es cosa mía.

- ¿Qué pasaba en el club?

Yo sabía que era el ídolo, pero no era lo mismo. Nadie ha vivido eso. El adiós de Rafa Benítez era un tercer punto. La entidad era un caos con la venta. Eran todo palabras de posibles proyectos. En muchas cosas me recordaba al Atlético: gran historia, muchas ideas… pero sin dinero hace falta tiempo. Y no me sobra.

- ¿Por qué dice eso? ¿Se sintió traicionado por alguien?

Porque el fútbol no es un deporte de gente honesta. No puedes decir la verdad o ser claro con la gente. Es un negocio y nadie es amigo de nadie.

- El Madrid buscaba un ‘9’. ¿Pensó que podían llamarle?

No. Nunca. No era una opción para mí. Sólo había una y es el Chelsea. De hecho, no había ninguna hasta que el Chelsea apareció de la nada. Era algo que estaba en mi cabeza, pero muy lejos de que pudiera pasar.

- ¿Le dolió lo que pasó en Liverpool al irse?

Repito que fui honesto. Sé que no fue la mejor manera, pero yo fui sincero. Si alguien utilizó la Prensa, no fui yo. Yo fui de frente y tengo la conciencia tranquila.

- Llega a Londres al equipo de Abramovich. ¿Cómo es el ruso?

Roman no vive aquí y cuando viene a ver al Chelsea y a ver los entrenamientos, he visto que es una persona muy cercana. No tiene nada que ver con la imagen que se pueda tener de él. Cuando aparece es como uno más en el club.

- ¿Ha hablado con usted?

Sí, pero no me ha dicho nada que se pueda contar.

- Cuatro partidos y aún no ha marcado. No está siendo fácil su adaptación.

No esperaba que lo fuera. Nunca es sencillo. En el Liverpool me costó lo mío. Hay dos meses de adaptación a algo tan nuevo, y más en febrero.

- ¿Esperaba una Prensa inglesa tan dura, siempre recordando los 58,8 millones que costó?

No sé qué están diciendo. Me pusieron internet el miércoles y tengo suerte de no seguir la Prensa aquí. Si leo algo, es la española. Los niños ya me ocupan bastante tiempo.

- Fue un mal guiño del destino debutar contra el Liverpool y perder.

Son cosas que pasan. Se acepta, perdimos y ya está.

- ¿Y qué ha cambiado hablando de fútbol puro?

El Chelsea ha demostrado que tiene jugadores de primer nivel en todas las líneas y que siempre va a competir pase lo que pase, con un dueño que va a invertir cuando haga falta.

- ¿Qué le sorprendió al llegar al vestuario?

El ambiente en la caseta. Esperaba algo más distante al ser un equipo lleno de estrellas. Hay más relación personal y bromas entre los jugadores que en el Liverpool. Allí era todo más serio. Aquí no hay que demostrar que eres profesional. Eso se supone. Fuera puedes hacer lo que quieras, entre comillas, porque la exigencia en el campo es máxima.

- ¿Quién fue su padrino?

Benayoun. Hablé mucho con él las horas antes de fichar.

- ¿Y la afición?

Impresionante desde el primer día. Casi tienen más ganas que yo porque marque el primer gol. La gente está entusiasmada.

- ¿La parte esencial de estar en el Chelsea es ganar títulos?

La única.

- ¿Premier o Champions?

Champions, sin duda. Después de ganar el Mundial y la Eurocopa es lo máximo. Me gustaría ganar la Premier porque es una competición preciosa, y estoy seguro de que ganaré al menos una. La Champions es otra cosa.

- ¿Se palpa en el vestuario que falta ese título?

La tuvieron a un penalti…. Como para que no se note. Se nota que es algo que se les escapó, como si se la hubieran quitado.

- ¿A quién ve como gran rival?

Depende de los cruces. Imagina que a un lado del cuadro van Schalke, Tottenham, Shakthar… Todo lo que se piensa cambia. Se supone que Barça, Madrid o United, pero el año pasado era el Barça y cayó. A dos partidos no es previsible. El Barça es el equipo que mejor está jugando.

- ¿Qué daría por un doblete esta temporada?

¿Qué quiere? ¡Lo que sea!

- ¿Ve la Liga española como la escocesa?

Para nada. Hay mucho nivel de los dos primeros, pero no ganan puntos porque los otros sean malos equipos y sí porque su ritmo es tan alto que los demás no le pueden seguir. ¡Tienen una barbaridad de puntos! Ellos han crecido, no es que Sevilla, Valencia o Atleti hayan bajado.

- ¿Ve al Barça mejor, como dicen los siete puntos de la tabla?

Sí. Como dijo Mourinho, el Barça es un equipo hecho. ¿A quién fichas o cómo lo mejoras?

- ¿Torres lo mejoraría?

No creo. Es que no creo que se pueda mejorar. Ibrahimovic no lo mejoró, es igual con y sin Eto’o… Puedes cambiar piezas y no equivocarte, ¿pero cómo lo mejoras?

- ¿Qué ha dejado Mourinho en el Chelsea?

Se le tiene mucho cariño. Es la persona que convirtió a este equipo en ganador. No pasa inadvertido. En el Chelsea es alguien muy especial Levantó al club, algo que como se ve en el City no es fácil. Queda mucho de él hasta en la forma de entrenar.

- ¿Le gustaría trabajar algún día con él?

[sonríe]. Va a ser complicado. Pero claro que me gustaría, como con Guardiola, con Wenger, Ferguson… con los mejores; saber qué tienen los grandes, su secreto para estar siempre arriba. De Mou, saber qué tiene para triunfar en todos los sitios, con dinero y sin dinero. Me encantaría.

- ¿Cristiano o Messi?

Me traería a los dos al Chelsea. Están haciendo cosas sobrenaturales. Sus equipos perderían mucho sin ellos. Están a mucha distancia del resto. Messi ha ganado más cosas con su equipo, pero si CR7 hubiera ganado hubiera más con su club, creo que no todo el mundo se quedaría con Messi.

- ¿Y su Atleti? Tras el doblete, parecía que se estabilizaba.

Yo imaginaba una temporada difícil porque repetir eso era muy complicado. Lo importante es que mantiene a sus jugadores importantes. Cuando yo estaba, ni jugué la UEFA, sólo la Intertoto. Ahora se pelea por estar en la Champions. ¡Ojalá hubiera vivido yo una crisis así! Puede que la gente que está allí ahora no lo vea, pero son tiempos mejores. El club da pasos pequeños y lo importante es no volver atrás.

- ¿Se lo imagina sin el Kun?

Como aficionado diría otra cosa; como futbolista digo que el jugador tiene que estar mientras sea feliz. Si se quiere ir, sé justo con él si se lo ha ganado bajando el precio o súbelo si no lo ha hecho. Se le da las gracias y se busca a otro que quiera venir. De nada sirve que se quede un jugador como el Kun si no está feliz.

- ¿Vaya a donde vaya?

A mí no me gustaría que fuera al Madrid, como a cualquier atlético, pero si va al Madrid yo no soy de los que le van a matar. Lo que decida está bien. Si un jugador como el Kun se quiera ir, puede que sea porque el club no crece al mismo ritmo que él. Si haces un equipo para competir arriba, el Kun no se va a querer ir. El problema es que hoy no se puede pelear con Barça y Madrid.

- ¿Se retirará en el Atlético?

No es una pregunta para mí. Por mí claro que sí. No sé si volveré a jugar allí o a formar parte del club. Yo no voy a cerrar la puerta nunca al Atleti. Quiera lo que quiera, yo estaré allí.

[Tortilla9 390]

A few things that may have translated slightly different, Spanish to English:

Atletico cannot compete with Real Madrid or Barcelona. It's not so much the other La Liga teams have gotten worse, those two have gotten that much better.

Doesn't follow the internet, busy with his children. Usually only reads Spanish media (probably for the best).

Fans have been great. They want him to score more than he does.

Yossi wasn't pulling the strings to make the move happen. Yossi made the move and transition easier for him.

He was surprised how light-hearted the Chelsea dressing room was with the superstar players. The atmosphere isn't as tense as Liverpool. The professionalism comment is implied that the players are professionals and don't need to be micro-managed by a manager. Possibly intended to Rafa who was a notorious micro-manager.

The loss of players like Alonso followed by no replacements made him think Liverpool was more about selling and less about competing for titles. The sale of the club and the inability to do anything because of it combined with Rafa's departure made the Liverpool situation unstable. He felt like it was Atletic all over again.

[ElNinoSemper 18]

Though again, has he said anything that wasn't true about Liverpool FC? Was the club not in some dire shit for the past 3 years because of the owner situation? The fans can stick with the club for a lifetime, Torres' remaining top years can be counted on one hand. He's not loud, his 'fault' here is that he's blunt.

Precisely. The truth hurts, as they say, and that more than anything is why Liverpool fans are so incensed. Doesn't sound like he regrets it one bit either, which will make them all the more bitter. I find it highly amusing - and telling - that they still have Torres threads in their different forums to discuss his every move. And I mean every move. Post after post dissecting his play, of course almost all of them negative. If they hate him so much, and are ecstatic with the Suarez and Carroll signings, why do they bother? Hmm....

[Henri 115]

Precisely. The truth hurts, as they say, and that more than anything is why Liverpool fans are so incensed. Doesn't sound like he regrets it one bit either, which will make them all the more bitter. I find it highly amusing - and telling - that they still have Torres threads in their different forums to discuss his every move. And I mean every move. Post after post dissecting his play, of course almost all of them negative. If they hate him so much, and are ecstatic with the Suarez and Carroll signings, why do they bother? Hmm....

It`s like love, broken hearted ends with hate

[Tortilla9 390]

Precisely. The truth hurts, as they say, and that more than anything is why Liverpool fans are so incensed. Doesn't sound like he regrets it one bit either, which will make them all the more bitter. I find it highly amusing - and telling - that they still have Torres threads in their different forums to discuss his every move. And I mean every move. Post after post dissecting his play, of course almost all of them negative. If they hate him so much, and are ecstatic with the Suarez and Carroll signings, why do they bother? Hmm....

Funny because they think he already has regrets and second doubts.

[dodojojo 510]

Much better translation of the Marca interview is up on Torres' site. Much better read than the English press' selective interpretation.

Fernando Torres: “I would give anything to do the double”

The Spain and Chelsea striker spoke exclusively to newspaper MARCA. The forward’s interview, which touched a range of subjects, took over the first four pages of the daily publication. Torres spoke of the reasons behind his move to Stamford Bridge, the mano-a-mano between Barcelona and Real Madrid, and how he hopes that Atletico Madrid’s Sergio Aguero does not join their local rivals Real Madrid.

- You have been in London now for 2 months. How are things progressing?

Little by little. It’s a big change, a big city…and I’m still sorting things out. It’s been very busy but I’m happy here.

- Is this the step-up your career that is going to lead to domestic title success?

You never know. When I left my house in Spain for the first time, I thought that would be the definitive move. But time proved me wrong. You never know if it is going to be your last chance, so you must give your all to try to make your dreams come true. I know have five and a half years ahead of me to fight for what I want to achieve.”

- Are your dreams any closer?

I believe that they are. The city and the club have everything I need. A lot of thought went into this decision. It wasn’t a rushed decision, as I had taken it while ago.

- When exactly?

In the summer in which Xabi Alonso left I started to wonder. I had the best three years of my career at Liverpool. I thought I was at the best club around, one that would win things with time. But when Xabi and Mascherano left, and before them Crouch and Arbeloa, when reinforcements didn't arrive, I started to wonder if Liverpool was the club its history suggests or if it was in fact a selling club. They told me they would not sell anyone and I turned down an offer from Chelsea in the summer. I understood Liverpool's reasons for not wanting to sell me, even though I knew I was letting an opportunity go by – one that might not come back again. The club was not the same, it wasn't heading in the direction I thought it should head in and I could see that a change was needed.

- Where you always sure the club would be Chelsea?

What other teams could I have gone to? I couldn't go to Manchester United out of respect for Liverpool. Or Real Madrid, because of my past. I don't think Barcelona needed anyone. I didn't like the idea of Italy. Chelsea were the only club left. There was only one option. In fact, I thought there were no options at all until Chelsea appeared with just twenty days to go. And then suddenly one day, 20 days before the end of the January transfer window, the opportunity appeared. I didn't expect it; it was like a light bulb coming on in a long, dark passageway. I thought that the six months left at Liverpool this season would feel like three years. This time I got a second chance.

- Who did you speak to at Liverpool?

When I heard of Chelsea’s interest in me, I spoke to the club’s Sporting Director and I asked to meet with all the coaching staff to tell them that I wanted to leave. My teammates knew nothing. I wanted to be honest. If others haven't been honest, that's not my problem.

- What was happening at the club?

I knew I was an idol at the club but it was no longer the same. There was also the departure of Rafa Benítez and the club was in chaos with the sale. There was so much said, so much talk about projects, but then nothing. It reminded me of Atlético Madrid: great history, lots of ideas but without money you need time. And I didn't have much of that.

- Did you feel that you were let down?

Football is not a sport populated by honest people. You can't tell the truth or be up front with people. It's a business and no one is friends.

- Real Madrid were in the market for a number ‘9’. Would you have considered joining them?

No. Never. It was never an option. There was only one choice and that was Chelsea. There was no team on the horizon until Chelsea came for me out of the blue.

- Where you affected by the events that took place at the Liverpool when you decided to leave?

I just want to say again that I was honest. I know the transfer wasn't handled in the best way but I was honest. If anyone used the press, it wasn't me. I was straight and I have a clear conscience.

- What is Abramovich like?

Roman does not live here. But when I have seen him at games or at training he is been very approachable, very different from what some people think. He acts and behaves just like the next person at the club. He’s very down to earth.”

- Have you chatted?

Yes, but it was a private conversation.

- Four games without a goal. How are you adapting?

Well I never thought that it would be easy. At Liverpool it also took time. You need a couple of months to settle, especially if you join a club mid-way through a season in February.

- Did you expect the English press to be so hard on you?

I don’t know what they are saying. I’ve only had internet at home since Wednesday and I don’t really follow the press here. I normally keep up to date with the Spanish press. As for my free-time, my children take up most of it.

- A defeat in your debut at home to Liverpool of all teams.

These things happen. We lost and have to accept it.

- And what about Chelsea?

Chelsea have proven that they have top-class players throughout the squad. There’s plenty of strength in depth and the club will always be competing for silverware. The owner also invests in the club if needed.

- Were you surprised by the atmosphere in the dressing room?

I have been surprised by the atmosphere in the dressing room, considering there are so many stars. There is more of personal relationship and jokes between players than there was at Liverpool. There, it was much more serious. Here, you don't have to prove you are a professional. That's just taken as read. Off the pitch you can conduct your own life but the demands when you play are maximum.

- Which player has been looking after you?

Benayoun. We were in contact a lot during the final hours before the deal was signed.

- What about the Chelsea fans?

Unbelievable from day one. They want me to score my first goal almost more than I do! The fans get right behind their players.

- Was the sole reason behind your move to Chelsea is to win titles?

Yes, that’s the only reason.

- Which title would you prefer to win, the Premier League or the Champions League?

Definitely the Champions League. After winning the World Cup and the European Championships is the biggest prize you can win. I would also love to win the Premier League as it’s a great competition, and I’m sure that I will win at least one. You can never tell with the Champions League.

- Is the feeling in the dressing room that the Champions League is the one title that has eluded them?

They came within one penalty of winning…. so you can imagine how much they want to win it. It’s almost as if the Champions League title was snatched away from them.

- Who are Chelsea’s main rivals for the title?

Depends on the draw. Schalke, Tottenham and Shakthar could all be placed in the same side of the draw… Barcelona, Real Madrid or Manchester United are probably the biggest threats, but last year Barcelona were favourites and they went out. Over two-legs I am not too sure, but right now, Barcelona are the team playing the best football.

- What would you give to win the double this season?

Whatever it takes!

- Is it fair to say that the Spanish and Scottish leagues are two very similar competitions?

Not at all. The two top clubs in both leagues stand out from the rest. They win their matches thanks to the way they play and not because the other teams are not good enough. They set a remarkable pace which is hard for other teams to follow. Just look at how many points they have won so far this season. It’s not that Seville FC, Valencia or Atletico Madrid are playing worse than before, it’s that Barcelona and Real Madrid for example have improved on last year.

- Are Barcelona worthy of their seven point lead over Real Madrid?

Yes. Just like Mourinho pointed out, the Barcelona team have been together for a while now. Who are they missing? who can come in to improve the current team?

- You?

I don’t think so. I don’t think that they can be improved. Ibrahimovic arived and Barcelona were not a better side, and they still play just as well aftre Et’oo left. Players can come and go but the team maintains it’s high standards. What can you do to improve Barcelona?”

- What legacy has Mourinho left behind at Chelsea?

He is very love here. He made this club a winner. People are very fond of him here as he took Chelsea to new heights. A quick look at Manchester City proved that it’s not an easy task. He has left his mark at the club, even at training there are still reminders of Mourinho.

- Would you like to be managed by Mourinho?

[smiles]. It’s going to be difficult. But I would love to work for the best in the game like Guardiola, Wenger, Ferguson… they all hold the secret to success. Mou has proven that he can be a success with or without money. And that’s something I admire.

- Cristiano Ronaldo or Messi?

I’d love to have both players at Chelsea. They are capable of some unbelievable things and they are both key players for their respective sides. The two of them are head and shoulders above the rest. Messi has won a lot of titles with his club and Cristiano could also have won just as many. I’m not too sure which of the two players people would prefer.”

- And what about Atlético Madrid? Not the best of years after doing the double…

It’s hard to repeat the success of last year. They have managed to hold onto their most important players. When I was at the club, I only played in the Intertoto, we didn’t even qualify for the UEFA Cup. The club is now fighting to qualify for the Champions League. I would have loved to have been playing for the club during a ‘crisis’ like this! Some might not see the bigger picture, but these are better times for Atlético. It’s important to try and take small steps forwards instead of steps in the wrong direction.

- Can you imagine an Atletico Madrid without Sergio Aguero?

As a fan I would say one thing, but as a footballer, I would say that the player has to be happy. If he needs to move on, and deserves the opportunity, then the club should lower his asking price. They could always put the price up if he doesn’t deserve to move on. The club would have to thank him for his services and try to look for someone else to replace him. There’s no point hanging on to an unhappy player, even if it is Sergio Aguero.

- Would it matter which club he joins?

Just like the next Atlético Madrid fan, I wouldn’t like him to sign for Real Madrid. But I wouldn’t turn against him if he did. Whatever he decides will be the right decision. If a player like Aguero wants to leave, it’s because the club is improving slower than the footballer. If the club is constantly improving, and the team is getting stronger, Aguero would stay. The problem in today’s game is that no other club can compete with Barcelona and Real Madrid.

- Are you going to hang-up your boots at Atlético?

That question should be for someone else, but if it was down to me, I’d love to. I don’t know if I’m ever going to return to the club as a player of in a different role. I’m never going to close that window of opportunity. I will always be there for the club.

[LDN Blue 7,903]

Yeah saw this yesterday. He should point Aguero our way

[dodojojo 510]

God that would not go down well with Atletico supporters. Sure they love him, but that may be a bridge too far even for Torres!

Aguero does look appealing as the second striker needed by Chelsea. But from what little I read, the one season Torres and Aguero played together, they didn't really click. Granted Kun was 18 at the time and in his first La Liga season.

[dodojojo 510]

This is the Confidencial interview translated. Really happy to see some of his Spanish interviews translated as they're more in depth since he's communicating in his native language.

Fernando Torres: “I’ve spent my life trying to win and looking for titles”

The Spain and Liverpool number ‘9’ rocked the football transfer market in the January transfer window. The former Atlético Madrid striker became the most expensive Spanish player after the Blues paid Liverpool 58 million euros. Sat with a cup of coffee at his Chelsea apartment, the forward spoke to the elconfidencial.com.

"The first few weeks are not easy. You don’t just arrive and everything is waiting for you. You have to get to grips with a new city, there’s all the paper work, looking for an apartment ... it takes time to find your feet and there are moments when everything seems a mess. One good thing is that in London you still drive on the same side of the road! At least I’ve found time to go out to dinner in the centre of the city and to also visit a couple of parks with the children. It’s a much bigger city than Liverpool.”

Fernando has yet to find to time to visit all the touristic sites London has to offer, but the striker is no stranger to the capital after visiting the city on his days off whilst playing for Liverpool. "I've been to Hyde Park, to Harrods, but the best places are recommended to you by locals and a lot of the times they are in quieter parts of town. London though is a huge city. If there is not too much traffic, it can take me about forty minutes to get to training. On a bad day it can take ages. Life in Liverpool was very different. I venture out in London, but I’m in awe of the city.”

Despite his four years in England, the forward has no doubts where home is, although he’s unsure as to whether he will play in la Liga again. “Home for me is Spain. It’s where my family and friends are, and whenever my family and I can grab a few days we head back. I don’t think I could return to play in Spain even if I tried. The only real option is Atlético Madrid. I wouldn’t move to Real Madrid if the chance came along, and at Barcelona there is no room for me. Real Madrid has never been a viable option as I’ve always played for the other half of the city. I get asked in every interview if I would sign for them, and the answer is always ‘no’. I have a lot of respect for the club, and whenever I have been to the Santiago Bernabeu, all the employees, the club President, and Jorge Valdano the General Manager have welcomed me with open arms. But I don’t think that the club has ever really thought of me as a future Real Madrid player."

- "The Liverpool I left was not the same Liverpool I joined."

His departure from Liverpool was not very well understood by a small group of supporters who took to burning a replica Torres shirt in front of some television cameras. "I didn’t like what I saw as I don’t think it was a fair reflection of people’s feelings. It happened because there were cameras there, and unfortunately it is now quite common in football. I remember a similar thing happening when Gerrard was linked to Chelsea. I think that things could have been done differently.”

Torres can count on the support of several former Liverpool teammates. "I'm not the first to move on in these last few years. Xabi Alonso, Mascherano, Arbeloa, Riera, Benitez ... are just some of the 20 or 30 people who have left the club, and everyone has left to better their careers. My case was special, but at the end of the day we all joined another club. My teammates were the only ones who understood me. The Liverpool I left was not the same Liverpool I joined. I didn’t understand in which direction they were going. There were still 20 days to go before the end of the January transfer window and all the club could think of was the upcoming Europa League match. I never thought however that I would leave Liverpool, but I didn’t know that Chelsea were about to come knocking again. I was my only option, and surprisingly, the next day I received a call from the club.”

- But why move?

"It was a combination of factors. Once I left my house in Spain, all I wanted to do was to win. At that the time you believe that your new team will be the team where you will spend the rest of your career and that happen as planned. But sometimes things just don’t work out. Any feelings fade away when you are made to feel that the club is no longer your home. The situation was nothing like the one I experienced at Atlético Madrid. I would speak to the General Manager Miguel Angel Gil, who I had known for the previous ten years. Liverpool had new owners. I think that things with the previous owners would have been dealt differently. The process would have been easier. I was made to feel that the club was no longer my home, so I thought it was time to pursue titles once again. There was only one team that could offer what I wanted, especially as I wanted to stay in England. Chelsea confirmed their interest in the January transfer window after having already tried and failed in the summer. I did not fancy a move to Manchester City, or a move to Manchester United out of respect and loyalty to Liverpool. I couldn’t let this chance pass me by. I regard the Premier League as the number one club competition, which is why I wanted to stay in England.”

Torres has rediscovered the winning spirit he had lost in his last few months at Liverpool. "I’m sure that my best years in the Premier League are still to come. Now I want to settle down, to focus on football and to enjoy my time here. With Chelsea I can fight for the league title and the Champions League. Only once with Liverpool did I experience that feeling. Just over six weeks ago I wasn’t feeling as I am now. Now I feel that I'm closer to what I want to achieve in football.”

- The huge transfer fee will not weigh the striker down -

Torres is one of the most expensive players ever in football. Zinedine Zidane, now working for Real Madrid, once commented on the large transfer fees paid for players, including the fee paid by Real Madrid for Zidane when he signed from Juventus. "The players are oblivious to the fee paid for them. Sure it's a lot of money, but we do not control the market. We simply negotiate our contracts and the club negotiate a price. The press analyse our every move, but I wouldn’t have played any different from how I did regardless if I had cost 20 or 80 million euros.”

Torres’ ambition to win silverware made him switch Liverpool for London. "I’ve spent my life trying to win and looking for titles. I have been lucky enough to win the European Championships and the World Cup with Spain. But as a footballer you also want to win with your club, the team you train with every day, and the reason why you are living and playing abroad. Chelsea are going to give me that chance this year, the next and the next ... Over the next fifty years the club will be fighting with the likes of Manchester United and Arsenal. Chelsea have an owner who continues to invest in the squad, an owner who has a dream and an owner who will not stop until his dream comes true."

- Roman Abramovich -

"He’s the owner, though you won’t find him at the club every day. At Chelsea there’s a president and a sporting director to take care of the day to day running of the club. Roman Abramovich is a very accessible person, and he’s there for you if you ever need anything."

The second part of the interview was dedicated to Torres’ boyhood club, Atlético Madrid, and the domestic competition in Spain.

"I'm delighted if things go well for Atlético. ‘If I’m angered that I didn’t win any titles with the club?’ Not at all. I enjoyed the club’s triumph because I’m an Atlético Madrid supporter. When I left the club, there were some people who thought my farewell speech was a gimmick to justify my departure. That was so far from the truth. The move was good for both the club and myself. One player isn’t bigger than his team or his club. It’s a massive mistake to think he could be. And it’s not true that a club will disappear if a certain player leaves. What a club needs to do is to invest the money wisely. They should try to build a team that can win trophies, and that’s exactly what happened at Atlético Madrid.”

This summer could see a repeat of popular players leaving Atlético . "Now it could be the turn of players like Sergio Aguero (Kun), Diego Forlan or David De Gea to leave, but the fans will continue to go and watch their team at the stadium. If a player is no longer happy at the club, then the right thing is to let him leave. The club have to be fair. If he has done well for the club, then they should prepare a graceful exit and wish him the best of luck in the future, regardless of the club they join. But if the player hasn’t performed well for the club, then they shouldn’t allow him to leave on the cheap. They should defend the club’s best interests. The players all know what it means to play for Atlético Madrid, but if they want to join Barcelona or Real Madrid there’s nothing you can do. It could be a tough pill for the fans to swallow but they will still return the following week to watch their team. The supporter is in his or her right to give the player a warm or cold welcome when they next return to the Vicente Calderón playing for another team. But saying that, I wouldn’t like to see Sergio Aguero playing for Real Madrid, but it’s down to each player to decide what he wants to do with his career.”

The striker believes that Atlético have improved since his departure. "I never played with Atlético in the UEFA Cup. We only got as far as the Intertoto. The club is now qualifying regularly for the UEFA Cup and the Champions League, and on top of that, the club has won a couple of trophies. Slowly but surely the club is moving in the right direction. This is my take on the situation. We can’t forget the two years spent in Division Two, and that during the club’s first years back in the top-flight, Atlético never finished above tenth place in the league. The big problem in Spain is that clubs cannot compete with Real Madrid or Barcelona. At the present time the other teams have to realize that at least one, and probably two of the titles up for grabs will be won by one of these two clubs."

The difference between Barcelona and Real Madrid could have a negative effect on the league. "Barcelona can’t be improved, and Mourinho is right to say that they are the finished article. A problem may arise when the clubs have to replace a certain player. But right now, who would you sign to improve these two teams? Real Madrid are trying hard to play as a team. The difference at the top isn’t because Valencia, Sevilla and Villarreal are playing worse than previous years, it’s just that the other two clubs are performing much better. Hopefully the domination these two clubs have in Spain doesn’t become even more apparent, as it could have a negative effect on la Liga.”

Torres feels that Barcelona have the edge. "They are the finished article. Barcelona can now afford to take their foot off the peddle courtesy of the points cushion they currently have over Real Madrid, but if Barca needed to win every game, they probably would. There are some games during which Real Madrid find the going tough as they are still gelling as a team. It’s Mourinho’s first year and I’m sure that things will click at Real Madrid if he is granted more time. But in football the demands are high and even more so at Real Madrid. The club are used to winning and are used to repeated success. The club are capable of challenging in the league, probably more so than in a two-legged tie or the Cup final.”

[Peace. 4,352]

Shevchenko said: 'Chelsea play a different game to Liverpool. You need time to adapt. Everyone is looking at him because the price of the transfer is very high. In England everyone puts a lot of pressure on him. He is a big player, a big name and goals will come.

'He needs to keep believing in himself and keep calm. I know he will be working hard. Maybe it is best he does not think about scoring.'

Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-1367703/Andriy-Shevchenko-tells-Fernando-Torres-relax-Chelsea.html#ixzz1Gz1zldpH

[Term-X 7,891]

Top of the flops

^ Typical daily hatemail bollocks.

[Henri 115]

Shevchenko said: 'Chelsea play a different game to Liverpool. You need time to adapt. Everyone is looking at him because the price of the transfer is very high. In England everyone puts a lot of pressure on him. He is a big player, a big name and goals will come.

'He needs to keep believing in himself and keep calm. I know he will be working hard. Maybe it is best he does not think about scoring.'

Read more: http://www.dailymail...l#ixzz1Gz1zldpH

What Udo Latek told Gerd Muller when he played for Bayern Munchen... see link

http://www.goal.com/en-gb/news/2914/champions-league/2011/03/16/2395522/fernando-torres-speaks-about-liverpool-is-he-stuck-in-the

[LDN Blue 7,903]

I think people are reading waaaaay too much into this so called "drought". He's a striker.. Off form.

Wayne Rooney was in the same position in December! Now he's being raved about (not so much, but he's certainly not being harassed now). Just give him more time to deliver.

[dodojojo 510]

Armchair sports psychologists ...assessing Torres off of tabloid accounts.

Unless Fernando Torres makes an appointment and goes in for a session, the psychologists are guessing as much as we are.