Torres itching to get back into soccer action

July 24, 2009

Fernando Torres has had barely three weeks away from football but that is enough for the Spanish striker who is itching to get back into action.

After Liverpool finished second in the Premier League Torres jetted to South Africa to play for his country at the Confederations Cup, where he scored the fastest hat-trick by a Spanish player.

It meant he had less time off-duty than others, but the 25-year-old is now focused on his pre-season preparations and wants to get more time on the clock after appearing for only 10 minutes against Thailand on Wednesday.

Manager Rafael Benitez is carefully managing his top asset, but he should get a game against Singapore on Sunday as they wrap up the Asian leg of their pre-season tour.

“Whatever Rafa thinks is best is fine for me,” said Torres.

“I am feeling good and want to get to 100 percent as soon as possible.

“It’s difficult to return to training in this weather and this heat. We are tired and stiff but we still have one month before the season starts so there is time to be ready.”

With Steven Gerrard in court on affray charges back in Liverpool, Torres is the star attraction for fans in Asia and he has been overwhelmed by the attention.

“It’s important for us to come to Asia to see our amazing fans,” he said.

“It was really nice to hear them singing my name and to see so many fans with my shirt on at our last game. It makes me really proud.

“I’m not surprised how big Liverpool are out here but I am surprised how popular I am. I have to thank Liverpool for making me that player.”

Torres, who recently signed an improved contract, insisted on Thursday that the Reds can win the Premier League this season.

“I came to Liverpool to win trophies and it’s been two years without one which is a long time for Liverpool,” he said.

“But I’m sure we can win the Premier League or the Champions League.”

SINGAPORE (AFP)

Tags: Asia, champions league, confederations cup, Fernando Torres, hat trick, last game, Liverpool, Manager Rafael Benitez, premier league, rafael benitez, reds, season preparations, SINGAPORE, soccer action, South Africa, star attraction, Steven Gerrard, striker, Thailand, time off, trophies, weather

Tevez watches as Man City sunk by Pirates

July 18, 2009

New signing Carlos Tevez watched from the sideline as Manchester City lost 2-0 to Orlando Pirates Saturday in the opening Vodacom Challenge tournament match.

City manager Mark Hughes said was “too dangerous” to field Argentine Tevez and another close-season striking purchase Paraguayan Roque Santa Cruz in this northern city as they lacked match fitness.

Former Manchester United striker Hughes, under pressure to break into the English Premiership “big four” after a close season spending spree that also netted England midfielder Gareth Barry, offered no excuses for the loss.

“It was a good workout against a Pirates team that played very well. I was pleased with the day, but not the result,” he admitted after a goal in each half gave the “Buccaneers” a deserved victory before 20,000 spectators.

“We are in the conditioning phase of pre-season preparations and today you could see that the players are at different levels. A few more games and they will all be up to speed.

“Carlos (Tevez) and Roque (Santa Cruz) were not considered for this match as it would have been too dangerous given their level of pre-season fitness,” stressed Hughes.

Pirates coach and former Netherlands World Cup star Ruud Krol had sympathy for City: “They have just travelled from Dubai and this does not make it easy. Believe me, City are a good team.”

The English Premiership outfit lacked at least half its likely first choice line-up and were under pressure from the kick-off with goalkeeper Stuart Taylor forced into a low save just 14 seconds after the kick-off.

Lucas Thwala put Pirates ahead on 36 minutes from the penalty spot after Ben Mee was guilty of shirt tugging and City had Craig Bellamy and Martin Petrov booked during an opening half in which they wasted several scoring chances.

Botswana midfielder Phenyo Mongala added a second goal on 56 minutes as his cross flew over Taylor into the far corner of the net and although City made a number of substitutions they never threatened to wrest the initiative.

City face Kaizer Chiefs Tuesday in the Indian Ocean city of Durban before meeting the winners of a play-off between the South African clubs in the Pretoria final next Saturday.

POLOKWANE, South Africa (AFP)

Tags: Argentine, Ben Mee, Botswana, Carlos, carlos tevez, challenge tournament, choice line, craig bellamy, deserved victory, Dubai, Durban, England, English Premier League, english premiership, far corner, Gareth Barry, Indian Ocean, Lucas Thwala, man city, Manchester, manchester city, manchester united, Mark Hughes, martin petrov, midfielder, Orlando, orlando pirates, pre season fitness, pretoria, roque santa cruz, ruud krol, santa cruz, season preparations, sideline, South Africa, spending spree, stuart taylor

Dzeko suffers ankle injury during team training

July 11, 2009

Bundesliga champions VfL Wolfsburg will be without their prolific striker and AC Milan target Edin Dzeko for about ten to 14 days.

The news comes as a blow, the 23-year old will miss the vital pre-season preparations after an injury to his right ankle-joint during team training on Tuesday morning.

The Bosnian had a sensational season with Wolfsburg finding the back of the net 26 times, and finishing as the Bundesliga’s second-best goal scorer last season, bested only by his Brazilian Wolfsburg team-mate Grafite, who scored 28 league goals.

He joined the Lower-Saxony outfit from FK Teplice in summer 2007 to score a total of 34 league goals in 60 Bundesliga matches.

By: Abhimanyu Rajput