(source: tumblr) Interview: Rubén Uria (Spanish journalist) - Part 1 Do you think Gil (Atlético de Madrid’s owner) was in the right when he sold Fernando Torres? "It wasn’t a good decision then and it wouldn’t be a good decision now. And the way his exit was portrayed was just appalling. For a long while the Atlético de Madrid supporters were told that “it was either selling Fernando, or the stadium”, and they ended up selling both and to this day, they’re still in debt. It’s ridiculous that they tried to take us for fools and pushing these silly tales down our throats. Fernando was pushed out of the club and that’s a fact. Regardless of how much you like him, he never had the intention to leave and that’s all there is to it." If Atlético had kept Torres, do you think he’d be regarded differently at Atlético? Do you think he’d be more of a legend, in the old, romantic sense of the word? "But he is a legend, in the old, romantic sense of the word. People who say “no, Fernando Torres left Atlético de Madrid because he was only interested in the money” are absolutely clueless and couldn’t be further away from the truth. Fernando left the club because he was pushed out. When he was barely eighteen years old, he was forced to assume certain responsibilities that no one else at the institution had the guts to assume. What I like the most about him has little to do with what he’s done on the pitch, and he’s done a great deal on it and has done it marvelously, but what I like the most is that throughout the years, he’s kept his head in the right place and even though he left Atlético, he’s still the best ambassador the club has. During the National Team celebrations, he had no reason to parade around his Atleti flag and scarf and yet he did it. He’s always made sure that everyone knows, without a single doubt, that he’s as Atlético as it gets." A couple of years ago, you mentioned on a TV show that you didn’t think Fernando was a truly great player, that you thought he was good, but not world class, yet during recent times, you’ve published several positive articles about him and you’ve stuck up for him in the face of criticism. Have you changed your mind about him? "No, I haven’t changed my mind. I still think that Fernando isn’t a world class player and I don’t think he’ll ever be one, I would be lying if I said otherwise. To me a world class player is Messi, Ronaldo… Futre, Ben Barek, Collar… Fernando Torres isn’t that kind of player. That said, he’s a phenomenal player, an elite central forward and a great, great footballer. When he’s made to play counterattacking football, like he usually did at Liverpool, then he is world class. He was an absolutely first class footballer during that year and a half. So I don’t think he’s the eight wonder of the world, but I think he’s a fantastic player, and the ruthless critics directed his way are terribly unfair. He’s Spain’s best number nine, and when I say number nine I’m not including Villa, who thrives when he’s played in the wing. But you know what, still, even if I take Villa into account I’d still take Torres. He’s the best Spanish central forward in general terms and as much as people talk about the Soldados, Negredos, it will remain that way. I think both Soldado and Negredo are pretty inferior when compared to an in-form Fernando Torres. Lately people have shown an outstanding lack of respect for Fernando and I decided to write each and every one of those articles you mentioned because I consider that Fernando, I insist, while not a world beater, is far, far from “finished”, “shit”, or whatever people are saying now. I get the impression that Fernando is paying the price of not having played for a team dressed in White. If he had, life would’ve treated him much better don’t you think?" Do you think he’ll ever go back to Atléti? "Of course he will. There is no doubt whatsoever in my mind that he will go back. I just hope that when he does, neither Gil or Manzano are there to make his life a living hell, or worse, to sell him again. But I think he’ll go back and the people will love to have him back, they’ll be absolutely ecstatic. But the longer he takes in coming back, the better, because that means both him and Atleti are doing well in their respective paths. The idea of an underwhelming second stint is too depressing to think of. I remember that when Simeone came back as a player for the second time, he didn’t do so well and he left because he wasn’t getting much playing time and because he felt his role at the club was secondary, and I would hate to see Fernando go through a situation like that, I would hate to see him as a sub or as a secondary player. I’d like to see him go back and to do wonderfully, I’d like to see him at his best, the way he likes himself the most. But to be honest, either way I think the Atlético de Madrid people will stick by his side, he’s a player that deserves respect regardless of his state of form and regardless of his qualities as a footballer. He is and will forever be an ambassador for the club." What would you like to say to all the Torres fans? "To never change and to keep supporting Fernando. He deserves it. For each person who decides to join in the petty criticism, there are ten more Torres supporters who will stick up for him through everything. It’s funny, the more the abuse towards him is considered a norm, the more journalists and fans alike think it’s acceptable to go after him in such a vicious manner, the more relentlessly he’s defended by his supporters, the more passionately. They’re only making them support and love him even more fiercely."
Posted on: Sat, 14 Sep 2013 19:25:06 +0000
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