Torres determined to repay Del Bosque
Reuters - Monday 28 May 2012, 12:28
Fernando Torres is determined to
repay the faith shown in him by Spain coach Vicente del Bosque
after a spectacular loss of form put him in serious danger of
being left out of the world and European champions' squad for
Euro 2012.
The 28-year-old striker, hero of Spain's triumph at the
European Championships in 2008, has struggled since joining
Chelsea from Liverpool in January last year but has a chance to
rediscover his best form in Poland and Ukraine next month.
With record scorer David Villa ruled out through injury,
Torres is likely to be in Del Bosque's starting line-up when they
play Italy in their opening Group C match on June 10, something
he said he would have found hard to believe in February when he
was dropped for a friendly against Venezuela.
"I was left out of the squad and that was tough," Torres
said at a news conference at Spain's pre-Euro 2012 training camp
in Schruns, Austria on Monday.
"I started to understand that things were serious, that I
wasn't getting much playing time with my club and that if things
carried on that way I wouldn't be going to Euro 2012," he added.
"Vicente has put his faith in me and now I need to show him
I am ready to play whenever he thinks it necessary. I hope to be
able to give the team the best of me."
Torres, who has netted 27 times in 91 appearances for his
country, said his reprieve had made him more enthusiastic than
ever and he was fighting fit after spending a considerable part
of season watching from the Chelsea bench.
"When you see yourself missing out and then you are selected
you are more excited even than the first day," said the striker,
whose club side lifted the Champions League earlier this month.
"I have arrived feeling fresh because I haven't had the same
physical burden as the others and I am in good shape.
"I would have liked to have played more for my club but the
important thing is that everything works out in the end."