by Dundalk » Mon Jan 12, 2009 8:33 pm
Interview with Nando by Balague
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Guillem Balague: Fernando, its been a year of great highs, including the year you have had at Liverpool and Spain’s victory at Euro 2008 - but injuries have also meant some low points as well. How would you sum up the last twelve months?
Fernando Torres: It has been a year to remember. I think that there have been more positives than negatives. For the Spanish players here at Liverpool, the win at Euro 2008 did not compensate for the fact that we did not win any trophies with Liverpool, but for our country and for us as players representing our country; it was something truly unforgettable that is going to stay with me forever.
It is an honor to represent a club like Liverpool in Europe and we reached the semi final of the Champions League and lost in extra time. I have been able to play every weekend and Wednesday at the highest level and have been able to score goals and get global recognition. The year has ended with my injury over the last couple of months but that has been just a blip in a great year.
Guillem: And next up in the Champions League are Real Madrid. How do you see that game panning out?
Torres: Well we will have to see how we are in February in the build up to the game and what sort of form they are in coming into. On the face of things, Real Madrid are a huge team. They are always in contention in European competition and there in no reason why this year should be any different. But over the last few years in Europe we have proven to be a tough ask for any rival. No one likes to come up against us because of the way we are able to control games. When you consider the fact that the second leg is at Anfield it is a great draw for the spectators and should produce two great games. There are other interesting draws, but I think Real Madrid vs Liverpool takes top billing.
Guillem: In La Liga, Barcelona are breaking all kinds of records. Watching La Liga from abroad, what do you make of their performance so far? Do you think that they are the best team in Europe at the moment?
Torres: Yes without a doubt. I think that when you look at the way they approach each game and set out to win along with the amount of chances that they are creating they are in great form. The thing about this Barcelona is that they do not settle for what they have they are always looking for more. The variety of quality players that they have in their squad is fantastic and means that the impact of injuries is limited. Whoever it is that gets injured you just won’t notice their absence. They just don’t seem to be capable of having a dip in form in fact quite the opposite they look as if they are going to keep on improving.
Guillem: Is there one moment that you have experienced that defines what Liverpool is all about? Or any conversation you have had that sums it all up?
Torres: It comes down to a combination of many things. Over the last year, every day I was aware of where I was and what I have become part of. I remember when I arrived at the airport there was a huge line at passport control but people let me through and started to applaud and I’m not sure if they had even seen me play before. As I made my way through that crowd nobody pushed me or grabbed me, which was what used to happen in Spain. People simply shook my hand, wished me good luck and thanked me for coming. That was the moment when I realized that as a Liverpool player you are part of something special where the club comes before all else.
Guillem: What do you make of the Torres song?
Torres: I like it…
Guillem: Is there anyone in your house that sings it?
Torres: My little cousins, friends, everyone.
Guillem: In English?
Torres: Yes they are learning a bit as well.
Guillem: I remember a conversation that we had with Kenny Dalglish when he said that it was a great shame that you could not watch a game from the Kop and you told him that you hoped that one day it could happen. As a player you have been compared to Dalglish. You have met him a few times now, tell us about the relationship that you have with him.
Torres: I think it is great. I do feel for him a bit though because I don’t consider myself ready for such comparisons. His is truly the number one in the history of this club. However people will always draw comparisons between past and present players and sometimes it is difficult to say if they are accurate or not. For me it is an honor to be compared with a player that is widely considered to be the best player in Livepool’s history. It has been a while but people associated with this club still value him as much as when he was a player here. We will have to wait a few year to see if I will one day be held in the same regard. I want to win a lot of things here and play here for many years scoring a lot of goals along the way. I want to bring the same level of happiness to Liverpool fans as Dalglish did in his day.
Guillem: One way of summing up this season so far would be that Liverpool are top of the league and have got their without Torres for the most part. Is that how you see it? Do you think that you have a realistic chance of winning titles?
Torres: We have a real change of winning things this season. A Benitez team is never just about one player but about the group. We have a solid unit that knows how to win games playing our way. We have beaten the big teams without me and on occasion without Gerrard like the game against Manchester United. I think that was a positive for the team as a whole, it illustrated that importance of every player in the squad. Everyone is important here, we are working towards the same goal of ensuring that Liverpool win the Premier League. If we are able to achieve this it will have been a joint effort no one player will take the most credit. It is a group effort.
Guillem: You know that there are some people that are already booking a weeks holiday in May?
Torres: Well it’s a bit soon for that. Having won the European Championships with Spain and experienced what that is like: to be part of a generation of players that will never be forgotten. I think that the same could be said of this Liverpool team if we can win the League. If we can do it we will be remembered for many years in the hearts of Liverpool fans.
does it?
