The Atletico Madrid’s captain, Fernando Torres, analized to Mundo Deportivo Newspaper the present, the past and the future of Atletico Madrid and the National Team. He maded before ending the Champion National League in an interview exclusive that it comes to light now and in which the number ‘9’ reflected about the keys that have played a decisive role during the season.

- The history of all summers. But now is Liverpool team who offers a fortune, incorporates players like exchange money and Fernando Torres says bye to Atleti. Does it sound familiar?

Yes, it sounds familiar. But at the end the club and I have the last word. I have said more than once that If I leave I would be the first one to say it. It seems that each time comes out a new news or rumour that I have to justify, but me idea is staying at Atleti, and that’s the end of it.

- But there a lot of seasons with the same sad ending. Aren’t you tired of rowing for anything?

We have passed some years of transition that have had very difficult moments. It is preferible to give a step forward even short ones, that not giving it. This is a step forward, though is clear that Atletico needs to win a title to take off because like that we cannot compete from equal to equal with the rest of the teams. It is clear that if we win a title or achieve classifying to Champions, the great players will want to come to play to grow and contribute to make bigger Atletico.

- What the Atletico has to do to grow at the footballing?

That happens to make a good year and maybe in this club is enough being at UEFA. To that we need to wait again, fight, to keep the squad and have ambition.

- After 30 weeks keeping the European place the end has brought a seveth place that let you out of UEFA at the expense of Intertoto. What explanaition deserves the outcome?

That it has been an absolute failure. We have been asked to take the team to UEFA and we haven’t fulfil it thoug we have the intertoto possibility.

- Who’s the responsable of this failure?

The responsability is of the players, because we have the obligation to carry out a misión and we have failed. Though is true that in this club have always been problems and that concerns you.

- So, What it’s need to make everything fall to pieces and don’t achieve the aims?

Pacience. We can’t be changing of coach and teammates each season. It’s very difficult to keep working if there are changes each year. In this sense to trust again in Javier Aguirre is good because it suits to give time to work. We have to trust in the team also and to give leeway to let the new ones adapt and to know all of us. That formula will give results between three and four years if, also all club’s sourround is involved.

- Your fourteen goals this season demonstrated Atletico keeps having ‘Torres-dependence’. Is that good or bad?

Any player itself makes a great team. This year we haven’t count with Maxi that is one of the best players of the world, but we need much more to be a great club. It suits to divided the responsability and that’s why we brought Petrov and Maxi or Maniche. But results very difficult to make it if the football players come and leave right away. The first year you don’t know situate oneself at the changing room and then if you have to leave there is no way to make a team.

- That’s true, with you played Nikolaidis, Kezman, Diego Alonso and any of them still here with you…

With Nikolaidis I had, also, a great relation and I felt comfortable with him at the pitch, Paunovic never came to crystallize, but with any of them it had pacience. Maybe, if they had bear it they had been a great players but it haven’t wait to any of them. Therefore, it would be unfair to value their work because they where here just one year.

- By the way, How do you value Agüero’s campaign at his debut in Spain with Atletico?

It has made a so-so season and maybe it hasn’t achieved everything what have been expected of him, but who questioned he is a bad player. ‘Kun’ just came, he came from another championship, another experiences, is very, very young and has left a lot of seasons at Calderon. If you has bet on him you have to keep believing on him.

- The situation instable of the forwards has repeated also with the coaches with the exception of Luis Aragones or, now, Javier Aguirre…

It is also unfair to value them because they haven’t had time. Aguirre in four years took Osasuna to Champions. Manzano won a Cup with Mallorca, but Bianchi was here just a year. They also need time and it hasn’t given time here. Murcia, Ferrando... I don’t think they had fail, they hasdn’t time and we also didn’t fulfil with our duty.

- How do you survive when everything pass around you, nothing gets reinforce and they don’t achieve the aims?

At the end you get the most of it, because you don’t decided neither choose. The years go by and you have to accepted and bear it, because in the contrary this overcomes you.

- At any moment Fernando Torres has seen overcome at the Atletico?

It had time in which I felt very lonely. A lot what have happened in the club it happen because of me it has been bad moments, of many critics, moments to asked responsability and I felt lonely. Even though, I knew that I would carry on , thought the responsability could be divided. Everything hasn’t affected you, but it had times in which it had affected me.

- It is reflect of your responsability in this Atletico Madrid. Has affected you so many penalty mistakes?

The ones I fail weren’t decisive, even are phases and moments you have to pass. It is true that after failing one against Villarreal I said it should shooted another teammate with more confidence. But was the coach who said no, that I had to keep shooting them, I shouldn’t hide. And my teammates support me telling me that I shouldn’t quit, that I should shooting them. So I realized what I meant for them so you assume that responsability again. That confidence of the group make me taking up again the right penalty shoots.

- Talking about confidence, Fernando Torres has it on Luis Aragones in the National Team in spite of everything it has seen about you and the controversy and what generates always his call…

At the end people talks a lot, but I always standed up for the great competitions like EuroCup of Portugal or Germany’s world cup scoring goals. Critics are always going to be there, but I know that critizes to an Atletico is very easy. If I had come out of the young team of Madrid anybody had questioned me.

- People doubt, but Luis has it clear...

People can give their opinion and say what they want, but who gives you the confidence is the coach that is who call you, also the support of the teammates.

- In your opinion, What happen in this country that the National Team isn’t a lure if it isn’t in the great events? Why his doesn’t take the National Team?

We have to be realistic and to know that Spain is a power, but not in France, Italy or Germany, we haven’t been champions like they did. When we go to an important match we are asked to be champions and the defeats are horrible deceptions. We have to mature to grow. But, right now everything is criticize, but then to the EuroCup want to go everybody, so all of us has to push and cheer up.

- The doubts National Team has offered at the classificatory phase haven’t helped...

It has been difficult moments, but after winning to Letonia and Lichenstein everything was better. The problem is that it has talked if played two or three of Barça, of Valencia or Madrid and that distracted the attention. That affect. Also, after the summer always is difficult to take up again the way of the National Team and we accused it. But it is always the same history, people doubt about the National team and when there is to value is at the end.

- By the way, Are you in favour to elaborate a Spanish hymn?

When sounds your himn it represents a lot. Maybe with letter we feel it much more for the fac of signing it, because it seem that with letter all of us think about the same. You get excited watching to France or England singing their himn, because the letter means a lot, but I don’t think is an essential subject. If you do it, it’s fine.

- Your personal balance in the National Team, What is?

A person always want to overcome the goals and more after the worldcup. I gave a step forward although I loose the two last commitment for the sprain ankle, I have confidence to come back. Since Luis is there I haven’t fail being well, he trust on me and I want to keep going. But always will go to play the best ones.


Photo: Jose Antonio Garcia Sirvent