Premier League - Torres: Prem 'way ahead' of Liga

Eurosport - Tue, 25 Nov 14:32:00 2008

Fernando Torres has claimed the Premier League is "way ahead" of La Liga, a season and a half after joining Liverpool from Atletico Madrid.

2008-2009 Liverpool Fernando Torres - 0

The Spain striker took the Premier League by storm last season following his big-money move from Atletico in the summer of 2007, scoring 24 goals in his debut campaign for the Reds.

Although his second season at Anfield has been affected by some nagging injuries, Torres insists he is completely at home in England.

"It isn't easy to adapt but once you have, you would have trouble wanting to play anywhere else," said the 24-year-old, who scored Spain's winner in last summer's Euro 2008 final against Germany.

"The Premier League is way ahead of the Spanish league.

"You go to play away at a team in the relegation zone and you find yourself playing on a perfect pitch, with the stands full to bursting and opponents who are there to play football.

"And even if they lose, the crowd are going to cheer them on until the death. You only see this in British football."

Torres added: "The club is a symbol of a city which fought to stay alive.

"Everyone is proud of the team. Players want to come here because they know that Liverpool is a truly great club.

"Anfield is the most English of all the grounds - people live and breath football there.

"With just 45,000 fans there, that roar they give makes you think you have wings on your feet."

Torres completed his move to Liverpool in July last year, a month-and-a-half after they had been defeated by AC Milan in the final of the Champions League.

The striker revealed he was approached by Liverpool coach and fellow Spaniard Rafael Benitez just after that match, but he had trouble believing it was not a hoax call.

"Rafa Benitez phoned me on my mobile," Torres recalled.

"At the start, I was asking myself if this was some person imitating him. So I called (Liverpool goalkeeper Pepe) Reina to make sure it really was Rafa's number.

"Then after that, I didn't have to think for long. I knew that was the call I had been waiting for."

Sporting Life / Eurosport

Comment 1 - 15 of 15

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  1. spanish fans arent close to the teams because u have racist fans. But lots of the players in La Liga are african, in La Liga u have like 2 mega teams who rarely get beaten by bottom clubs thats called boring. Already this season the EPL's top 4 have been struggling except for Chelsea but even they lost their like 50 match undefeated run at home. This is because the depth in the EPL is way stronger than La Liga, Torres should know he was highly rated in Spain and loved by Ath Madrid fans. A city like Liverpool breathes football, when u think of Madrid/Barcelona do u think football? NOPE u think warm weather holidays, semi naked beaches, siestas. Nuff Said!

    From zehst, on Wed 26 Nov 1:15PM

  2. Seriously, what he did was the right thing! He is so talented and given his talent, a team like liverpool would definitely want him. So, well done torres! You made the right choice. You have my support all the way and together with my brothers, you'll never walk alone.

    From karolina, on Wed 26 Nov 4:05AM

  3. He would say that the greedy greasy @#$%....

    From sappercommando25, on Wed 26 Nov 2:54AM

  4. @#$% hell....

    From sappercommando25, on Wed 26 Nov 2:54AM

  5. Hey Dila, what Torres means is that at Anfield, the environment there is the most englsh way of supporters of all the stadiums he'd played. This isn't about capacity.

    From kyupok, on Wed 26 Nov 1:40AM

  6. i hope i'd get to experience the environment that he had just explained.. 1st stop, OLD TRAFFORD!! 76,000 capacity.. tell me, who can match that?!!

    From dila, on Wed 26 Nov 1:20AM

  7. Top Man,nuf said

    From kevin, on Tue 25 Nov 9:52PM

  8. Well on his way to becoming a true legend, everything the man does or says is spot on... FERNANDO TORRES Liverpool's number 9 .....

    From s.archer, on Tue 25 Nov 7:13PM

  9. An immaculate impeccable guy

    From Michael, on Tue 25 Nov 7:03PM

  10. Prem is the best in the world

    From Suzy, on Tue 25 Nov 5:40PM

  11. just pure class....

    From sohilgudka, on Tue 25 Nov 5:19PM

  12. i agree with torres about the pitches situation. but for the fans i disagree. i believe in spain fans are closer to their team than any oyher coutnry inn the world. foe example sporting gigon lost 6-1 at home against barcelona but the fans didn't stop for a second supporting their team

    From Varnavas P, on Tue 25 Nov 4:40PM

  13. yup what a guy

    From Michael, on Tue 25 Nov 4:33PM

  14. I truly like Torres...I hope he is able to keep a good head on his shoulders and stay around Anfield for quite a while.

    From Joel, on Tue 25 Nov 4:13PM

  15. what a guy!!

    From Stench, on Tue 25 Nov 2:28PM
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