Nando speaks.

[Bogman]

Torres: Liverpool must win the Europa League – and spend

442 Staff - 3 hours ago

 

 

Liverpool striker Fernando Torres believes the Reds must win the Europa League and secure a top four finish if they are to salvage their season – and has challenged the club’s owners to splash the cash or get left behind.

 

A shock defeat to Championship strugglers Reading in the FA Cup on Wednesday added to a succession of disappointments this term for the Anfield outfit, who have already been eliminated from both the League Cup and Champions League and lie 12 points adrift of Premier League leaders Chelsea.

 

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But more importantly, Rafael Benitez’s side trail Manchester City, Aston Villa and Tottenham Hotspur in the fight for fourth place, with failure to qualify for next season’s Champions League the primary concern on Merseyside.

 

And talisman Torres insists that finishing fourth and triumphing in Europe’s secondary competition is the only way the ailing Reds can save their struggling season.

 

"We didn’t want to win the Europa League at the start of the season but it’s a reality now," he told FourFourTwo.

 

"Now we have to win it. Anything less than winning the tournament would be terrible.

 

“If we do not win it then we have to say it’s been a very, very, very bad season in Europe.

 

"We need to improve, we need to take responsibility and we need to get into the top four and win something. We have virtually no chance of winning the title now.

 

“Now we need to make the best of this situation."

 

 

Torres has seen his own season hampered by a thigh injury in recent months, and he was withdrawn after just 29 minutes against Reading with a knee problem that will keep him out until March.

 

But it's the team's stumbling progress that is causing Torres the most pain.

 

 

 

“It’s frustrating. We finished second last season; this season should have been a turning point for us – the chance for us to do something great.

 

"Manchester United sold Carlos Tevez and Cristiano Ronaldo, while Chelsea didn’t sign anyone. But it hasn’t been."

 

 

Now Liverpool's No.9, who saw former Atletico Madrid mate Maxi Rodriguez join the Reds on a free transfer on Wednesday, has called on the club’s owners to dig deep and back Benitez to ensure Liverpool are back challenging on all fronts next season.

 

BLOG: Will Maxi be born again at Anfield?

 

 

“It’s now the owners’ turn,” Torres insisted.

 

“They have to sign players so that this does not happen again. If we want to compete with United and Chelsea we need a much, much more complete squad. We need more genuinely first class players and we can’t let our best players leave.”

 

Fernando Torres was speaking to FourFourTwo for next month's Strikers Issue, on sale January 23.

 

 

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[MFletcher]

Babel and Torres now.

 

Clearly the non-investment and the perception of standing still is pissing the players off as well.

[Red Kent]

Yeah, if only we had 50p more, we might of beaten Reading over two games.

[Mr. Biscan]

Babel and Torres now.

 

Clearly the non-investment and the perception of standing still is pissing the players off as well.

 

 

No doubt it's good news to see the players come out, but when someone mentioned money to me on the way home from the match last night I could have thrown up.

 

We don't need to repeat debates on other threads here, but money wasn't an issue when we finished 2nd and it shouldn't be an issue now. The players not so much Torres need to stand up and be counted. It's not as if the squad is devoid of quality, there are captains of their respective national sides playing.

 

Bah....Money

[johngibo YPC]

Babel and Torres now.

 

Clearly the non-investment and the perception of standing still is pissing the players off as well.

 

Pepe in the summer as well

[surf]

Yeah, if only we had 50p more, we might of beaten Reading over two games.

 

there are two issues kev, club ownership and management. torres has focussed on one issue and come out and said the owners should invest more money in players. let's not turn this into the other issue

[CarraLegend]

Well in Fernando, Gerrard and Carragher next please.

 

And that s***bag Moores should grow a set aswell.

[Red Kent]

there are two issues kev, club ownership and management. torres has focussed on one issue and come out and said the owners should invest more money in players. let's not turn this into the other issue

 

I make it three as I wouldn't trust Rafa to spend umpteen millions on the right players.

[muleskinner]

Yeah, if only we had 50p more, we might of beaten Reading over two games.

 

He should keep quiet then? Not mention the massive cloud that has developed over the club because of the owners? That make you happy?

[Red Kent]

He should keep quiet then? Not mention the massive cloud that has developed over the club because of the owners? That make you happy?

 

There are so many clouds over Anfield, not all caused by the owners.

[surf]

I make it three as I wouldn't trust Rafa to spend umpteen millions on the right players.

 

i'd lump that under management, so still two issues.

[Rimbeux]

He should keep quiet then? Not mention the massive cloud that has developed over the club because of the owners? That make you happy?

 

It's double edged. Yes pressure is welcome and it might spur something, but you do hope the squad and management dont sit around moping about who we haven't got in and have let go, it would be such a poor mindset to get in and very hard to get out of, ultimately always looking elsewhere for answers.

[Benzo-13]

There are so many clouds over Anfield, not all caused by the owners.

 

The biggest cloud is the owners.

[Flight]

There are so many clouds over Anfield, not all caused by the owners.

 

 

Saw this post before I saw who had posted it, yet, strangely, I knew who had.

 

 

“It’s now the owners’ turn,” Torres insisted.

 

“They have to sign players so that this does not happen again. If we want to compete with United and Chelsea we need a much, much more complete squad. We need more genuinely first class players and we can’t let our best players leave.”

 

Fernando Torres was speaking to FourFourTwo for next month's Strikers Issue, on sale January 23.

 

 

Good to hear Nando speak out like this.

[Red Kent]

The biggest cloud is the owners.

 

But there are other clouds, yes.

[muleskinner]

It's double edged. Yes pressure is welcome and it might spur something, but you do hope the squad and management dont sit around moping about who we haven't got in and have let go, it would be such a poor mindset to get in and very hard to get out of, ultimately always looking elsewhere for answers.

 

Everything he says is correct and needs saying again and again, the bigger the name and stage it is said on the better.

[Rimbeux]

Everything he says is correct and needs saying again and again, the bigger the name and stage it is said on the better.

 

It maybe correct and the truth, but it doesn't come baggage free that's all.

[muleskinner]

It maybe correct and the truth, but it doesn't come baggage free that's all.

 

You are not going to get chapter and verse on all the issues surrounding the club, the management and the players in an interview like this. I'm f***ing delighted he has spoken out in this manner. The more people realise what the pair of c**** have done to this club the better, particularly when it comes from the mouth of arguably the biggest name there.

[Tones]

But there are other clouds, yes.

 

Yes theres you for a start.

[Red Kent]

Yes theres you for a start.

 

I look at myself more of a rainbow.

[Rimbeux]

You are not going to get chapter and verse on all the issues surrounding the club, the management and the players in an interview like this. I'm f***ing delighted he has spoken out in this manner. The more people realise what the pair of c**** have done to this club the better, particularly when it comes from the mouth of arguably the biggest name there.

 

 

I'm not expecting chapter and verse or asking for it, I agree with what he's said, I'd echo the words, I'm just concerned that it might show up a negative defeatist mentality where the management and players wallow about complaining about money and who we haven't got in the squad and hide there rather than focus on getting their best performance on the pitch with no excuses.

[Frosty Jack]

but can it not at least be accepted that morale has been damaged by off pitch affairs/ownership issues?

three players now.

 

its no excuse for current performances, but its one factor in several contributing to this nightmare.

[Rimbeux]

but can it not at least be accepted that morale has been damaged by off pitch affairs/ownership issues?

three players now.

 

its no excuse for current performances, but its one factor in several contributing to this nightmare.

 

I dont think I've ever not accepted it, I remember posting that players like Gerrard and Torres need additions to keep them on their toes, motivated and not complacent in response to some posts about a poor summer all around. I never in my deepest fears thought we'd turn into mid table on the back of it and I dont think that is the case, i think it's a contribution, a shove, but the stumble should have been corrected quickly and with little fuss. Players, people in general love a hiding place, love an excuse for not giving up their best.

[Frosty Jack]

I dont think I've ever not accepted it, I remember posting that players like Gerrard and Torres need additions to keep them on their toes, motivated and not complacent in response to some posts about a poor summer all around. I never in my deepest fears thought we'd turn into mid table on the back of it and I dont think that is the case, i think it's a contribution, a shove, but the stumble should have been corrected quickly and with little fuss. Players, people in general love a hiding place, love an excuse for not giving up their best.

 

Plenty on here have dismissed the idea when suggested prior to today, maybe not you in particular.

 

Do you truly believe players like Reina, Torres and Gerrard are guilty of that?

[CaptainXabi]

I'm not expecting chapter and verse or asking for it, I agree with what he's said, I'd echo the words, I'm just concerned that it might show up a negative defeatist mentality where the management and players wallow about complaining about money and who we haven't got in the squad and hide there rather than focus on getting their best performance on the pitch with no excuses.

I agree with you - there's a lot of wallowing going on around the club that needs to stop