T
he word bittersweet could have been invented for the last time that Fernando Torres visited Bayern Munich’s Allianz Arena. Unforgettably, he was part of the Chelsea team that achieved something akin to a sporting miracle in lifting the 2012 Champions League but, within minutes of the penalty shoot-out drama, a remarkably candid assessment of his own largely miserable spell at the club was being delivered.
“I felt they have treated me in a way I was not expecting,” said Torres. “The truth is I’ve gone through some very bad moments. The worst moments of my career in the past season. I am not willing to relive those moments. There have been many ups and downs and many moments where I felt lost and I didn’t know what to do and where to be.”
As his Chelsea team-mates were celebrating, the memory of Torres talking in such stark terms still lingers. His Munich postscript, however, does at least promise the possibility of undiluted joy. Torres had been deeply disappointed that night both not to have started and then not asked to take a penalty but, on his return to Bavaria yesterday, he sounded almost reborn in his enthusiasm.
Atletico Madrid, of course, were his childhood club and, although the teenager once nicknamed ‘El Nino’ has now matured into a seasoned 32-year-old campaigner, he can rarely have spoken with such wide-eyed optimism and excitement.
“There’s a real life here,” said Torres. “We really live for each other. We will fight and try to get to the final. The most important thing is we know who we are. We’re nothing if we’re not a team. As a team we can beat anyone. That is our philosophy. We die for each other. For us every game is a battle, a war.”
A further feature of Chelsea’s unlikely Champions League triumph four years ago was the semi-final victory against Barcelona that culminated in Torres personally sealing a similarly extraordinary victory at the Nou Camp. Pep Guardiola was in the home dugout that night and, having seen Torres score this season against Barcelona and also only be denied by the post in last week’s first leg, is preparing carefully for his threat.
“He is still very dangerous,” said Guardiola. “He was very good at Liverpool, had a few difficulties at Chelsea, but still a very good player. Yes, Torres scored that goal back then when we lost with Barcelona. It happens in the Champions League. You can’t control everything in football. I’m happy he is back home in MadTorres has described the prospect of reaching another Champions League final with Atletico as “beyond comparison” to his many other career achievements and is clearly also enjoying his seniority and responsibility in the squad.
“I’m trying to make another step forward,” he said. “I’m enjoying every day and working every day.It’s the only club I would have come back to. I’m trying to learn from the younger players and be in harmony with them.”rid and happy.”
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