TORRES Story Part 3
The Fernando Torres story, part three: Trophies are my target
Oct 12 2007 by Nick Peet, Liverpool Echo
The Fernando Torres Story: Part 3 of 3
FERNANDO TORRES’ move to Anfield was about one thing – winning trophies.
His love affair with Atletico Madrid ultimately wasn’t enough to
satisfy him as a footballer, but he’s walked away with the single
desire of becoming the best he can be.
The list of clubs competing for his signature read like a who’s who of
European giants in the summer, but once he resigned himself to leaving
the Vicente Calderon he had eyes for only one team.
Torres chose Liverpool in spite of several bigger offers, including a
monster one from Inter Milan.
“My choice was not down to money. This is a personal challenge,” said
the striker, who reportedly took a pay cut to join Rafa Benitez’s
Anfield revolution.
“I have signed for six seasons and my desire is to play here for the six.
“Liverpool have great players and I’m happy to be around them. The
more goals I can score, the better.”
But he admits that leaving Madrid was the toughest decision of his life.
The striker was shocked by the emotional reactions he received when
leaving Atletico, when fans protested outside the stadium the day his
move to Liverpool was confirmed.
“People were crying. It was a bit of a shock that I was so important
to them,” Torres says.
“It was a hard and difficult moment, but the decision had been made.
Those people that I’d seen crying were the very same ones that sent me
calls and messages of support.
“It’s a happiness for me, personally, as it’s unusual for Spanish
supporters to act like that.”
At his departing press conference, he said: “There comes a moment in
your sporting life when you have to look for new challenges and this
was it.
“The decision was mine. We received the offer and I asked the club to
listen to it.
“It was difficult to leave, but I couldn’t reject the Liverpool offer
. . . It was a unique opportunity.”
On Liverpool, he added: “They have become a major force again in
Europe in recent years and I want to add something new to the club.
They were the team I wanted to play for.
“Liverpool have shown confidence in me and I hope to be at the same
level as some of the legendary players that have worn the shirt.
“Rafa Benitez has given me the chance of taking a step forward in my
career and I want to return his faith with goals.”
That legendary Liverpool shirt, of course, was then made extra special
when Torres was given the No. 9, handed down from the departing Robbie
Fowler and originally made famous by Ian Rush.
It is a factor not wasted on the young Spaniard.
He recalls: “When the transfer went through I asked for it. I knew
that Fowler was leaving and the number was available and Rafa said `yes’.
“He asked me if I knew what it meant to wear that number here and if I
wanted it I could have it.”
Torres reveals that the stresses and strains of carrying Atleti for
years has been lifted from his shoulders since moving to Anfield.
It’s given him time and space to settle and, most importantly, hit the
back of the net.
“The past few years at Atleti have been somewhat difficult at times;
there’s been a lot of pressure on me,” he admits.
“While I was there I didn’t feel it or didn’t realise it because I was
focused on pulling forward for the team. But the change of scenery has
done me a lot of good.
“Liverpool is a great club and the pressure is shared among all the
players. The way the team works allows you to grow more as a player
and if the results are going our way then everything is a lot easier.
” I’m very happy and now that I can look back at the last few years I
notice that is very difficult to improve – to have a good time when
you’re carrying all the weight of the team on your shoulders.”
He continues: “I have only lost one game so far playing for Liverpool.
That is the major difference. Here, you grow used to winning. It
becomes second nature, and I had forgotten what it felt like.
“Liverpool, though, have gone 18 years without winning the Premier
League, and this year the Premiership title is one of the main objectives.
“Following our positive start, I feel that we are in with a shout. We
currently find ourselves in a good position in a league which in
recent history has been dominated by Chelsea and Manchester United.”
So what about his early opinions of the Kop.
“On the football side it’s amazing. It’s a great club in every sense
of the word, where you’re never missing anything.
“The atmosphere in the stadium is fantastic. I had never seen anything
like it before in Spain.
“And away from the stadium the fans are great, too. They’re very
respectful. They know when to approach you, they don’t come over when
you’re having a meal or when you’re spending time with your family.
“They will usually wait until you’re done eating dinner, even if they
have to wait a long time, or if you’re in the training ground and they
want an autograph.
“It’s different from Spain. They know how to separate the personal
life from life at the training ground. There are always exceptions,
but in general that’s how they behave.
“Liverpool fans are very enthusiastic but they might only say `come
on’ and that’s it, they don’t get on top of you or start following you.”
However, the striker admits that the move to England hasn’t all been
plain sailing.
And I would definitely watch your wing mirrors around Melwood as
Torres admits that driving on the `wrong’ side of the road is taking a
little getting used to.
He laughs: “Xabi warned me to be careful the first few days.
“It’s very tense at first when you’re trying to get used to the new
way of driving at every intersection.
“I’m okay with roundabouts, surprisingly, but the intersections are
more confusing because I don’t know where the cars are coming from, or
if they’re turning right or left, or where I’m supposed to turn to.
“As for living in Liverpool, so far it’s been good.
“It’s a small city, but there’s a bit of everything, good restaurants,
good shopping centres, and nice places to go for a walk. The only
drawback is the weather!”
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