Atletico Madrid striker Fernando Torres admits he dreams of lifting the Champions League trophy this season.
Torres, who returned to the club in January on loan from Milan until the end of this season, never won a title during his previous spell at the Vicente Calderon before his move to Liverpool in 2007, yet he is still eyeing Europe’s biggest prize, having won it with Chelsea three years ago.
“Hopefully I’ll be able to celebrate at Neptune fountain in Madrid like I did aged 11 when we won the double,” he told the London Evening Standard.
“I’d like to experience it as an Atletico player because it’s something that has eluded me. This club must compete against the big names as it’s a big club itself and El Cholo [Diego Simeone] has arrived, someone who knows what it is to be a champion.
“He did it on the pitch and now he’s having success as a Coach. He’s built a squad and along with his coaching staff has convinced us it’s possible to win.”
Torres, who played as a substitute in Chelsea’s eventual penalty shoot-out win over Bayern Munich in the final, says he still has fond memories of that night.
“When Didier Drogba scored the equaliser to take the game into extra time I knew we wouldn’t let it slip. You believe it’s your day when you turn a match around so unexpectedly and know you have the advantage.
“When you pick up the trophy you realise you’ve achieved the dreams of the owners, fans and other players. You feel as if everything has been worthwhile.
“I’ve been an Atleti fan since I started playing football and was lucky enough to train here at the age of 10. I’ve had some great times but after that there were more mediocre moments, including relegation to La Segunda.
“However, when you’ve grown up at a club, developed as a player and an individual, when they’ve shown and taught you the values of that club, then that is what you also defend day in day out in your personal life.
“It’s all about effort, sacrifice, fighting and believing. All of this has helped me over the years,” he concluded.
