Torres: An Intimate Portrait of the Kid Who Became King

commentators, not only in the English but also the Spanish media, had doubts about Torres’ chances of success at Liverpool …
     
    SL: ‘Definitely. Fernando Torres had a very good record at Atlético Madrid, top scorer in every season, but not the record of a guaranteed success. People say that Rafa Benítez bought an obvious player. It wasn’t that obvious. Sir Alex Ferguson didn’t buy him, he wasn’t sure. Fernando Torres had never scored twenty league goals. He hadn’t led a team to huge success. I think Rafa Benítez would be entitled to believe that Fernando Torres’ problem would be Atlético Madrid. And it was right.’
    GB: ‘Well, there were doubts that were justified because the level at which he was playing at Atlético Madrid was average. But there were also doubts in the minds of the people who signed him. He was never the first option for Liverpool – that was Samuel Eto’o. And the actual player harboured doubts as well. He didn’t know if he was able to achieve success straightaway. He knew he could go all the way but he thought it would take a bit longer. The English media weren’t convinced either because they could point to the examples of Spanish players who’d arrived in England and failed, like Fernando Morientes or José Antonio Reyes. Until the arrival of Torres, Spanish strikers hadn’t made much of a case for themselves. In any case, the national media had doubts. However, the Liverpool media and the team’s fans were more open-minded. They went on to embrace him as a big star. “Torres has arrived” they said. They’d seen how he scored goals against Barcelona, they’d seen his speed and the Liverpool supporters, who are very committed to the club, were the ones who had the least worries. But, yes, it’s true that neither the Spanish nor the English press saw the situation very clearly.’

Why was there this big change between Atlético Madrid and Liverpool?
     
    SL: ‘Well … maybe, the change is not quite as incredible as it looks. Maybe the change is just from a team that finishes eighth to a team that finishes second, a team that doesn’t play in the Champions League to a team that does. It’s just a little bit more. But I agree with you, I think there is a big change. At Liverpool, he doesn’t have the responsibility. He doesn’t have the pressure. He plays with better players. Steven Gerrard is playing behind him. English football suits him, there’s more space. The game is more physical, it suits Torres’ style, it’s more direct and that game is better for him. The first goal against Real Madrid is almost the perfect portrait of what Fernando Torres has become. Aggressive, strong, powerful, quick – and those are things that people in Spain don’t value and in England we value them very highly.’
    GB : ‘Well, I have my theories on that. One: that he really wanted to leave Atlético and he fancied going to England. The previous summer, before he signed for Liverpool, there were meetings between his representatives and Sir Alex Ferguson but nothing materialised. The following summer, Fernando was absolutely clear in his own mind that he wanted to go to Liverpool. He did everything possible – and impossible – to try to convince Benítez. His representatives, his agent and his friends talked to Rafa and in the end an agreement was reached. Two: that English centre-backs and defences in general – compared with Spanish or Italian – are bad, leaving too much space, and a player who has speed can have a field day. It’s also evident that Torres has improved not only his first touch but also his movement and ability to run with the ball, as well as choosing his moments during a match. And all that comes from working with the best manager in the world.’

How important is Rafa Benítez in this change?
     
    SL: ‘Rafa is very important. If you listen to Torres talk, he will tell you that Rafa Benítez is the best coach he’s ever had. And it’s not just because he likes him. It’s because Benítez as a coach is a perfectionist. A lot of coaches are not coaches, they’re the people who put players on the pitch. Benítez is a teacher, he’s explained to Fernando Torres how to make the right moves, how to fit the system of the team, how to play defenders, make the run left, the next time right. You also have to remember that part of Benítez’s success is because of Torres. He’s very receptive to ideas, he listens and he’s intelligent.