Rafael Benítez has given an ominous assessment of Fernando Torres's fitness to Liverpool and Spain by revealing that the striker's hernia may persist all season and cast doubt on his involvement in next summer's World Cup.
Torres, ordered to rest for three weeks rather than undergo surgery by a specialist in Valencia last month, will be absent for a fifth week when Liverpool travel to Blackburn Rovers today. The 25-year-old had raised hopes of a return at Ewood Park when he took part in a full training session for the first time in four weeks on Wednesday. Benítez, however, has admitted that Torres remains at risk due to a problem that could have lasting repercussions for club and country. The Spain international continues to feel discomfort in the groin, although is expected to feature against Fiorentina in the Champions League dead-rubber next week, and his manager is resigned to nursing Torres through the entire campaign and to next summer's World Cup on a restricted training regime.
The Liverpool manager explained:
"He was training from the beginning of the season but only part of the training sessions. We played 30 minutes' football the other day and he was involved but you do not want to take any risks. He is still not fully fit but he is very close, so hopefully will be with us against Fiorentina [on Wednesday]. He has more confidence now. He is still feeling it a little bit but he can do a lot more now that he couldn't before. We will have to keep an eye on him during the season but he can carry on. It will depend on each game but he has confidence and he is very positive and can carry on through the season."
Despite his confidence in Torres's availability, Benítez yesterday warned Spain's medical team in person that his striker will be assessed at the end of the domestic season and reiterated that surgery is not a viable alternative. "When you have this kind of problem it is very difficult," he said. "We were talking about how to manage it at a conference with four specialists the other day, and everyone had their own opinion, so it is not easy. In this case I think we have done the right things and you have to keep working during the season.
"Maybe he will be stronger in the second part of the season because he hasn't played too many games in the first half. After that, we have to analyse what his condition is. We will discuss it. Today I was talking with the fitness coach of Spain so we are in contact, our fitness coaches, so we can manage, but we have to see how he progresses during the season. I think he will have this all season. We have a good medical staff, working with players on the prevention of injuries, and we have a lot of players doing specific things to prevent injuries. You cannot control everything, but Fernando will be one of these players."
Despite Steven Gerrard's assertion that Liverpool are out of title contention Benítez is convinced his captain can complete his medal collection at Liverpool.
"We have confidence that if we can stay at the top of the table then we can be contenders in the next three or four years," he said. "We can win the title and hopefully he will be the captain when it happens."
Gerrard will make his 500th appearance in a Liverpool shirt today against the club that witnessed his debut as a substitute for Vegard Heggem in November 1998.
Torres, ordered to rest for three weeks rather than undergo surgery by a specialist in Valencia last month, will be absent for a fifth week when Liverpool travel to Blackburn Rovers today. The 25-year-old had raised hopes of a return at Ewood Park when he took part in a full training session for the first time in four weeks on Wednesday. Benítez, however, has admitted that Torres remains at risk due to a problem that could have lasting repercussions for club and country. The Spain international continues to feel discomfort in the groin, although is expected to feature against Fiorentina in the Champions League dead-rubber next week, and his manager is resigned to nursing Torres through the entire campaign and to next summer's World Cup on a restricted training regime.
The Liverpool manager explained:
"He was training from the beginning of the season but only part of the training sessions. We played 30 minutes' football the other day and he was involved but you do not want to take any risks. He is still not fully fit but he is very close, so hopefully will be with us against Fiorentina [on Wednesday]. He has more confidence now. He is still feeling it a little bit but he can do a lot more now that he couldn't before. We will have to keep an eye on him during the season but he can carry on. It will depend on each game but he has confidence and he is very positive and can carry on through the season."
Despite his confidence in Torres's availability, Benítez yesterday warned Spain's medical team in person that his striker will be assessed at the end of the domestic season and reiterated that surgery is not a viable alternative. "When you have this kind of problem it is very difficult," he said. "We were talking about how to manage it at a conference with four specialists the other day, and everyone had their own opinion, so it is not easy. In this case I think we have done the right things and you have to keep working during the season.
"Maybe he will be stronger in the second part of the season because he hasn't played too many games in the first half. After that, we have to analyse what his condition is. We will discuss it. Today I was talking with the fitness coach of Spain so we are in contact, our fitness coaches, so we can manage, but we have to see how he progresses during the season. I think he will have this all season. We have a good medical staff, working with players on the prevention of injuries, and we have a lot of players doing specific things to prevent injuries. You cannot control everything, but Fernando will be one of these players."
Despite Steven Gerrard's assertion that Liverpool are out of title contention Benítez is convinced his captain can complete his medal collection at Liverpool.
"We have confidence that if we can stay at the top of the table then we can be contenders in the next three or four years," he said. "We can win the title and hopefully he will be the captain when it happens."
Gerrard will make his 500th appearance in a Liverpool shirt today against the club that witnessed his debut as a substitute for Vegard Heggem in November 1998.
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