Torres 'needed 3 months off'

[Shaggy]

http://www.sportingintelligence.com/2010/11/03/liverpool-medic-%E2%80%98torres-needed-three-months-off-fitness-suffered%E2%80%99-031101/

Liverpool medic: ‘Torres needed three months off, fitness suffered’

By Alex Miller
3 November 2010

The man in charge of Fernando Torres’ fitness has warned the rest of the Premier League that the Spanish striker is ‘close’ to firing on all cylinders again but the player really should have had a rest of at least three months after his knee surgery in April.

Liverpool’s Head of Sports Medicine and Sports Science, Peter Bruckner, has admitted that Torres is still “not 100 per cent fit” and that in pre-season he had designed a tailored programme to enable the marksman to build up carefully and as fast as possible.

That work has paid off and Bruckner has told sportingintelligence that Torres is now close to being in top shape, if not quite there yet. “Fernando is now very close to being 100 per cent fit,” he said.

On the one hand this is good news for Liverpool – an explanation why their talismanic marksman hasn’t been firing to his own high standards. On the other, it raises questions about whether a longer rest earlier in the year would have allowed him to start the 2010-11 season much brighter.

Bruckner confirmed that it had been “a challenge” to get the player up to full fitness after the World Cup. He said the forward should ideally have had “three or four months off” after sustaining the knee injury.

If that had happened, it would have kept him out of the World Cup, which Spain won but with Torres clearly out of sorts for much of the tournament.

Bruckner also says that confidence would be a factor for the lethal marksman who has netted just twice so far this season for Liverpool. “I’m sure a couple of goals will see him really confident and flying again.”

Bruckner’s comments confirm the feelings of many commentators that the striker was struggling for fitness throughout Spain’s glorious summer.

Bruckner, who hails from Australia, is regarded as one of the world’s leading physicians. He moved to Anfield in the summer after stints with the Australian World Cup team and the Aussie Olympic and Commonwealth teams.

[Craig_H]

Medical genius? Years of study? Needed 3 months rest?

Bah, i could've told you that.

[RichC]

Medical genius? Years of study? Needed 3 months rest?

Bah, i could've told you that.

Well get your white coat on and get down to Anfield then!

[Mostar]

Medical genius? Years of study? Needed 3 months rest?

Bah, i could've told you that.

Good point

[RedReet]

That work has paid off and Bruckner has told sportingintelligence that Torres is now close to being in top shape, if not quite there yet. “Fernando is now very close to being 100 per cent fit,” he said.

I actually find that quite worrying, especially after Bolton. I was hoping for, he actually has a broken leg but we bandaged it up and it will be a few weeks before he's properly fit again. Last Sunday did not look like a near 100% Fernando Torres.

[Craig_H]

I actually find that quite worrying, especially after Bolton. I was hoping for, he actually has a broken leg but we bandaged it up and it will be a few weeks before he's properly fit again. Last Sunday did not look like a near 100% Fernando Torres.

He's lacking confidence, that was clear from the chance when he was in on goal and went all fancy, instead of just drilling it home.

It's good that he's still trying things like the little flick that put Maxi in, because normally a player low on confidence wouldnt try that.

I think Nando's ****ed off that we're not doing well and that he himself isnt performing as he would wish, but i dont think he's ****ed off in the 'i want to leave' sense. Not yet, anyway.

[RedReet]

I was thinking more of the lovely ball that Maxi slid through for him that a few years ago he could of had a cigar before rushing onto it, yet he wasn't even close to getting it and it actually made it look like a crap ball.

[Fredo]

He's lacking confidence, that was clear from the chance when he was in on goal and went all fancy, instead of just drilling it home.

It's good that he's still trying things like the little flick that put Maxi in, because normally a player low on confidence wouldnt try that.

I think Nando's ****ed off that we're not doing well and that he himself isnt performing as he would wish, but i dont think he's ****ed off in the 'i want to leave' sense. Not yet, anyway.

So, does he lack confidence or not then?

[Craig_H]

Well he's obviously lacking the pace, or the desire to try and sprint - whether that's temporary or even perhaps psychological, i dont know. I wouldnt be surprised if he'd lost that yard of pace permanently.

[Craig_H]

So, does he lack confidence or not then?

Well he does But it's not gone to the point where he's lost it entirely, otherwise he wouldnt try things like the flick and stuff where he inexplicably tries to beat 18 men on his own, instead of playing a simple/easy layoff.

I think he's lacking confidence from a goalscoring perspective, more than anything.

[Rudo]

I wish people would stop discussing him so much. One of few world class players we've got and when he goes through a bad patch all he gets is abuse and people questionng his commitment. It's not fair.

You can bet if it was Gerrard going through a similar bad time on the pitch, the excuses would be out for him, with Torres, it seems as tho he's super human and should be at his best every match.

[Craig_H]

Who's abusing him?

[Fredo]

I think much has to do with Hodgson not using him the way he should and him being annoyed about it. Bruckner putting a spin on things is just that, a spin. IMO.

[PTP]

i agree with craig - it was obvious and has been for about 12 months - that he has needed a good few months rest, with no pressure from club or country to rush back..take time, relax, get to full fitness and come back 100% instead of 70%

[Rudo]

Who's abusing him?

The media and many L'pool fans are still not still not happy with him.