Dis bredda Sick...worse buy Rafa eva mek.

[Sir X]

Clearly ave mental issues , how much damage could Hodgson have done.

Torres: I never loved Liverpool
February 5, 2011
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By ESPNsoccernet staff
Fernando Torres has played down the emotional aspect of his Chelsea debut against Liverpool by claiming the only club he truly loves is Atletico Madrid.


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Fernando Torres, Chelsea's No. 9
• Henry explains Carroll deal
• Henry praises Dalglish and Anfield
• Carroll: I'll justify price tag
• Torres couldn't wait for Reds revival
• Chelsea v Liverpool: Preview
• Rafa: Torres could have cost £70m
• Luis Suarez interview

Torres has promised not to celebrate if he scores against former club Liverpool at Stamford Bridge on Sunday out of respect for their fans, but he also removed himself from his status as Anfield hero by claiming he "never kissed the badge" while at the Reds.

While many Liverpool fans are unhappy with their former idol's £50million move away from Anfield, Torres bluntly stated he was simply a professional footballer with his own ambitions and that the only club in his heart is Atletico, who he left for Liverpool.

"I never kissed the Liverpool badge,'' he said. "Never. No. Kissed the badge? No. I never did. I never did when I was at Atletico Madrid, and I love Atletico, my former club. I see some players doing that when they join a club but the romance in football has gone. It's a different thing now. People are coming and leaving. When you are joining a club you want to do the best for yourself and that club and that's all.

"Some people like to kiss the badge. They can do it. I only want to score goals and do my job and achieve all the targets the team has. When I was born in Madrid I was not a Liverpool fan or a Chelsea fan. I was only an Atletico Madrid fan. I still am. Maybe it's the only badge I will kiss if I have to kiss one.''

Many have speculated as to the sort of reception Torres will receive from his former supporters, but he is sure that on the field at least, he will be given a friendly welcome, citing captain Steven Gerrard as one who has wished him the best with his new club.

He added: "He was one of the first ones who called me and said if I left, if I stayed, he would help me and support me. Maybe because he was in that situation first. He's been a very good friend and team-mate from the first to the last day. He only wanted the best for me and said he'd agree with whatever decision I made.''

He added: "I think 'traitor' makes no sense. I played three very good seasons there, left massive money there, lots of goals, good performances. I'm very happy with everything I did there. Maybe it's too soon to ask for a good reception. I'm not expecting that. But it would be a surprise for me if I get a very bad reception.''

[Sir X]

Henry: Carroll was a 'hell of a deal'
February 5, 2011
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By ESPNsoccernet staff
John W Henry has explained Liverpool's decision to spend a British record transfer fee on Andy Carroll, revealing he strictly stipulated that the Reds pay £15 million less than they received for Fernando Torres.


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Andy Carroll: Was always going to cost £15m less than Fernando Torres
• Henry praises Dalglish and Anfield
• Carroll: I'll justify price tag
• Torres couldn't wait for Reds revival
• Chelsea v Liverpool: Preview
• Rafa: Torres could have cost £70m
• Luis Suarez interview

Liverpool have come in for criticism after lavishing £35million on Newcastle to bring the unproven Carroll to Anfield but Henry said the size of the fee was not a concern as it was always factored in to negotiations with Chelsea.

"The fee for Torres was dependent on what Newcastle asked for Carroll,'' Henry told the Guardian, explaining they simply wanted a difference of £15million.

"The negotiation for us was simply the difference in prices paid by Chelsea and to Newcastle. Those prices could have been £35million [from Chelsea for Torres] and £20million [to Newcastle for Carroll], 40 and 25 or 50 and 35. It was ultimately up to Newcastle how much this was all going to cost. They [Newcastle] made a hell of a deal. We felt the same way.''

With Ryan Babel moving to Hoffenheim for £6million, the difference on the Carroll deal allowed Liverpool to pay for the £22.8million arrival of Luis Suarez from Ajax. However, Henry expressed surprise Chelsea were willing to go as high as £50million, questioning whether Roman Abramovich's club could meet UEFA's new financial fair-play rules.

"I was surprised Monday morning to receive an offer [from Chelsea for Fernando Torres] in that amount [£50million] at the same time they were announcing such large losses [£71million for 2009-10],'' Henry said.

"The big question is just how effective the financial fair-play rules are going to be. Perhaps some clubs support the concept in order to limit the spending of other clubs, while implementing activities specifically designed to evade the rules they publicly support. We can only hope that UEFA has the ability and determination to enforce what they have proposed.''

For Liverpool's part, Henry pledged to live well within the rules.

"We've always spent money we've generated rather than deficit-spending and that will be the case in Liverpool,'' he said, talking about the way in which his Fenway Sports Group operate the Boston Red Sox baseball team. "It's up to us to generate enough revenue to be successful over the long term. We have not and will not deviate from that.''

Henry also endorsed caretaker manager Kenny Dalglish, without confirming he would be offered the job on a permanent basis.

"We didn't know Kenny well prior to him coming aboard as manager,'' Henry said. "But he has exceeded our expectations on all fronts. It would be inappropriate to comment publicly on what happens beyond the end of this season.''