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United favourites, says Torres
KEIR RADNEDGE / Sports Features Communications
ZURICH, Jan 12: Manchester United may be five points behind Liverpool in the English Premier League but they are favourites to win the title – according to none other than Liverpool’s Fernando Torres.
The Spain striker made his modest concession to Liverpool’s pursuers on the eve of the FIFA World Player Gala in Zurich – where his rival nominees included United’s own Cristiano Ronaldo.
Torres, returning gently to first-team action after hamstring problems, had played only the last halfhour of his club’s disappointing goalless draw against Stoke at the weekend. United, by contrast, had dismissed Chelsea by 3-0 to narrow the gap behind the Merseyside giants; United, perhaps decisively, have two games in hand.
Torres, Liverpool’s top scorer last term at the end of his first English season and then Spain’s Euro 2008 trophy-winner, said: “United are the champions and the favourites because they have shown over the years they’re a very powerful team with great players and, if they win those two matches, they will be top of the league instead of us.”
Contentious timing
His comments, while honest and realistic, may be seen as a little ill-timed. They come just at a time when Liverpool are apparently faltering at the top of the table and after manager Rafa Benitez launchd a remarkable personal attack on United’s Sir Alex Ferguson.
Torres refused to talk about the Benitez/Ferguson spat but suggested that the decisive act in the title race would the meeting of the two clubs at Old Trafford on March 14.
He said: “We know we must take our opportunities and that Old Trafford is waiting for us and then we also have to play Arsenal and Chelsea at home. We all have options and we will fight to the very end. Finishing top of the Premier League is a prize limited to a very few teams.
“The match at Old Trafford can be decisive so we hope that we can take advantage at a ground which has not always beeen lucky for us.
“We all know what United are about. They’re champions of England, Europe and the world and we do respect them. We know we’ll be struggling to keep up with them or keep ahead of them when it comes to the final matches of the season.”
KEIR RADNEDGE / Sports Features Communications
ZURICH, Jan 12: Manchester United may be five points behind Liverpool in the English Premier League but they are favourites to win the title – according to none other than Liverpool’s Fernando Torres.
The Spain striker made his modest concession to Liverpool’s pursuers on the eve of the FIFA World Player Gala in Zurich – where his rival nominees included United’s own Cristiano Ronaldo.
Torres, returning gently to first-team action after hamstring problems, had played only the last halfhour of his club’s disappointing goalless draw against Stoke at the weekend. United, by contrast, had dismissed Chelsea by 3-0 to narrow the gap behind the Merseyside giants; United, perhaps decisively, have two games in hand.
Torres, Liverpool’s top scorer last term at the end of his first English season and then Spain’s Euro 2008 trophy-winner, said: “United are the champions and the favourites because they have shown over the years they’re a very powerful team with great players and, if they win those two matches, they will be top of the league instead of us.”
Contentious timing
His comments, while honest and realistic, may be seen as a little ill-timed. They come just at a time when Liverpool are apparently faltering at the top of the table and after manager Rafa Benitez launchd a remarkable personal attack on United’s Sir Alex Ferguson.
Torres refused to talk about the Benitez/Ferguson spat but suggested that the decisive act in the title race would the meeting of the two clubs at Old Trafford on March 14.
He said: “We know we must take our opportunities and that Old Trafford is waiting for us and then we also have to play Arsenal and Chelsea at home. We all have options and we will fight to the very end. Finishing top of the Premier League is a prize limited to a very few teams.
“The match at Old Trafford can be decisive so we hope that we can take advantage at a ground which has not always beeen lucky for us.
“We all know what United are about. They’re champions of England, Europe and the world and we do respect them. We know we’ll be struggling to keep up with them or keep ahead of them when it comes to the final matches of the season.”
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