Fernando Torres has been in scintillating form for Atletico Madrid this season, rolling back the years and putting in some great performances that have greatly helped Atletico in their Champions League and La Liga ambitions.
Five years ago, Torres was considered a massive transfer flop at Chelsea after they paid 50 million pounds to acquire his services from Liverpool. However, the 32-year-old has been a crucial part of the Atletico Madrid outfit which has performed superbly in Europe and La Liga this season.
Former Manchester United defender and current pundit Rio Ferdinand has come out and said why he thinks the former Blues flop has been so successful for Atletico.
“It’s his kind of football,” said Ferdinand, according to the Daily Mail.
“He needed to play counter-attack football. Gerrard at Liverpool used to get the ball. First thought, one touch, in behind the centre halves he was playing against.
“He went to Chelsea and they played ball-retention football. It didn’t suit him. His hold-up play isn’t his strength. He hasn’t got a great touch. He’s more comfortable running on to things. He didn’t get that opportunity at Chelsea. That’s why he was probably a failure there.”
El Nino is rolling back the years at Atletico
The first half goal by Fernando Torres at the Camp Nou in the UEFA Champions League quarter-finals was the beginning of the end for Barcelona. After having been sent off in that game and missing the return leg which Atletico ended up winning 2-0, Torres returned to Champions League action on Wednesday against Bayern Munich at the Vicente Calderon. The Spaniard was impressive yet again, narrowly missing out on scoring himself as Los Rojiblancos claimed a priceless 1-0 victory thanks to a Saul Niguez wonder strike.
El Nino has been in superb form these past couple of months, and even managed to score for Atletico in five consecutive games in all competitions. To put that in context, the last time he scored in four consecutive games was when he was a Liverpool player in the prime of his career.
Torres has notched up 10 goals and four assist for Atletico this season, and the La Liga club will surely be looking to keep him at the Vicente Calderon once his loan spell expires at the end of the current campaign.
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