Fernando Torres: Former Liverpool striker says how he felt when Steven Gerrard announced his retirement

Fernando Torres has said that he felt cold when Steven Gerrard announced his retirement. 

Fernando Torres has claimed that he was disappointed when Steven Gerrard announced his retirement from the game of football. The English International announced his retirement from professional football way back on November 24, 2016.

Fernando Torres and Steven Gerrard shared the dressing room at Anfield between August 2007 and January 2011. The Spanish International said that he felt cold when his former teammate decided to hang up his boot after an illustrious 18-year career, 95% per cent with Liverpool and a small spell with LA Galaxy for a year.

The duo formed a devastating partnership at Liverpool and brought plenty of joy to the supporters. The Spanish International once admitted that leaving Liverpool was a mistake, but he does not regret the decision of joining Chelsea.

The 35-year-old said: “It was a decision that took plenty of thought. When other teammates took their own similar decision, it made me sad. I remember when [Steven] Gerrard retired. It left me cold, I thought, ‘that’s it, it’s over, I’m not going to see him play anymore, that which I have enjoyed with him, the things that I have not said to him’.

It is a decision that feels like it will never reach you, until it does, and then by weighing up many things, you believe it’s for the best. Just as I did with Atleti, I wanted to find an iconic moment, a good farewell. It is a considered decision of which I am one hundred percent sure about.”

When he was asked about Liverpool, he elaborated that he did not intend to miss out on a club like Liverpool, which is reminiscent of Atletico Madrid.

“It was an amazing time. When I see players who have played their whole lives at one club, I’ve felt that I would have liked not to have left Atleti, who knows what might have happened, but that would mean missing out on Liverpool and [being at that club] is a feeling I don’t want to miss out on or forget.”

The Spanish International also credited his former boss Rafa Benitez. He said that his compatriot was his best manager, mainly because of the tactical astuteness and made him feel like a king at Anfield.

“When you’ve had so many great coaches you always choose things from each one. I always leave out people who I should include. Luis Aragones is there, without a doubt, as a coach, as a manager and as a leader he’ll always be right at the top. After Luis, Rafa Benítez and ‘El Cholo’ [Simeone], but without any specific order.

If I were a coach, I’d have a lot of these three coaches. I’ve had Mourinho, Ancelotti, Villas-Boas, Di Matteo, great coaches I’ve learnt a lot from, but I’d go more towards Benítez, because of how methodical he is, how he wants to control every part of the match. There are coaches of teams and coaches of players and Benítez gets great individual performances within the team. And that’s an innate talent.

Rafa took me to a level I didn’t think I’d reach. El Cholo – you’ve seen what he’s doing with Atleti and he’s been capable of changing history to a certain extent and that’s based on work.” added Torres.

Following his spells with Atletico Madrid, Liverpool, Chelsea, AC Milan, and Sagan Tosu, Torres decided to bid adieu to professional football. He will always be regarded as one of the best strikers to have played the game.

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Fernando Torres retirement has come as a huge loss to the world of football.