Fernando Torres: The Bernabeu won’t scare us.. but Anfield will terrify Real Madrid
They may boast the best record in Europe on current form, but Fernando Torres reckons it is Real Madrid who are running scared.
The Spanish giants entertain Liverpool tonight on the back of a run of nine straight wins. That puts intense pressure on the Reds who know their season will effectively be over should they go crashing out at the first knockout stage. Madrid dished out a 6-1 thrashing to Real Betis at the weekend, while Liverpool limped to a draw with Manchester City that signalled the end of their title challenge for another season.
But according to Torres, it is the Madrid side who will be afraid of what lies ahead in this mouth-watering tie. His logic is simple. For all the majestic history of Real’s Bernabeu Stadium, it is Anfield that is the most intimidating arena and one that will have Real quaking in their boots.
“ I don’t think there is a ground in the world like Anfield – certainly not the Bernabeu, said the Spanish striker. Liverpool fans will be impressed with the Bernabeu because it is a great stadium but the atmosphere won’t be anything like as good. I enjoy being a part of a club that has that identity and I want to be part of that history. I genuinely don’t think there is another club like it. There’s nothing like playing at Anfield. It was similar when I was at Atletico. That was a special club with a special feeling and Liverpool is even more so. It will be a close game but it is good that we play at Anfield second. We will have a better atmosphere and it is the small details that will decide this tie. That makes us confident. Real Madrid will not like playing us because over two games we are very difficult to beat. We are one of the hardest sides to beat in ties like this, especially with the crowd behind us at Anfield. ”
Even Real’s former Chelsea winger Arjen Robben admitted they must take a lead to Anfield if they are to progress through to the quarter-finals. But Torres knows what a tough task awaits tonight – in his six years playing at Real’s city rivals Atletico Madrid, he never once won there, and has only ever scored one goal against the King’s club. But he revealed the perfect motivation to change that record as he returns to his home city to face the club he always despised growing up as an ‘Atleti’ fan. Despite his status as one of the world’s outstanding strikers, and even given the fact he scored the goal that won the European Championship for Spain last summer, Torres believes he has never received the recognition he deserves in his homeland.. because he played for a smaller club.
“ If you don’t play for Barca or Real in Spain then people just don’t rate you as highly,” he said. Now I’ve moved to England I still think there’s some of that. I still think some people look at me like an Atleti. But maybe now because I am not a rival there’s a bit more affection for me. Moving to Liverpool has given me that chance to show I’ve arrived. One of the main reasons I have succeeded at Liverpool is the desire I brought with me to the club – the desire to compete with the best and show I was good enough to play here. English football has been good to me because of its characteristics. It suits my game more than Spanish football, and I have the desire to show that to the people back home. On the face of things Real Madrid are a huge team. But over the last few years in Europe we have proved to be a tough ask for any rival. ”