5 Realistic Targets for Fernando Torres at Atletico Madrid
Fernando Torres' Atletico Madrid return will go one of two ways.
Either he'll quickly resettle at the club he joined as an 11-year-old and make a meaningful contribution as Los Colchoneros pursue silverware on three fronts or he'll quietly fade into the background, ineffective and anonymous, as he did with both Chelsea and AC Milan.
For his sake, and in the interest of a good story, here's hoping for the former scenario.
That said, it's unlikely the 30-year-old (he'll be 31 in March) will set the world alight in his homecoming, but he could still have a part to play in a team that's defending its Primera Division title, anticipating a Copa del Rey showdown with Real Madrid and chasing Champions League glory.
To that end, here are five realistic targets for Torres at Atletico Madrid.
5. An Immediate Impact
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Torres will likely play his first match for Atletico Madrid since his 2007 move to Liverpool when the champions host Levante on Saturday.
Despite the occasion of his return to Estadio Vicente Calderon the striker, who has 91 goals for the club (10 more than his haul for the Reds), will likely start from the bench.
Antoine Griezmann scored a hat-trick the last time out in a deputising role for the suspended Mario Mandzukic and could be handed another opportunity to lead the line. Mandzukic, of course, could also be recalled to his usual position.
In any event, Torres' first action in the Rojiblanco shirt in more than seven years will probably come in the form of a cameo appearance, but given Levante's woeful defensive record it's possible he could mark his repatriation with a goal.
It would be the perfect way to begin the latest chapter in a zigzagging story, and the bit of confidence would set him up for subsequent matches against Real Madrid (January 7) and Barcelona (January 11).
4. Supplementary Goalscoring
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La Liga leaders Real Madrid have scored 55 goals this season. Second-place Barcelona have managed 41.
Atletico Madrid, who are currently four points back of their capital rivals, have tallied just 31 times in the Spanish top flight, and with only two players having bagged more than three goals through 16 matches (Mandzukic and Griezmann) manager Diego Simeone will be on the lookout for supplementary goalscoring in the second half of the campaign.
Torres could provide it.
Although history—and not even the recent sort (he hasn't scored 10 or more league goals since 2009-10)—would seem to downplay the expectations of meaningful impact, the World Cup winner could prove effective if the pleasure of a homecoming and absence of pressure combine to make him an auxiliary contributor to the attack.
In Real Madrid manager Carlo Ancelotti, who was in charge of Chelsea when the Blues acquired Torres from Liverpool in 2011, the erstwhile Spain international has at least one, high-profile believer.
"I find Torres' return exciting," Ancelotti told Marca on Monday. "I've coached him and I like him both as a person and as a player. He's going home and that will spur him on even more."
3. A Memorable Moment or Two
3 of 5Although his difficult years at Chelsea and the disappointing loan stint at AC Milan have applied a hit to his reputation, Torres' CV nevertheless includes some memorable, individual moments.
There was the late brace for Liverpool against Chelsea in February 2009 and the Champions League goal against Real Madrid the following month. And who can forget his tally at Camp Nou in 2012 that eliminated favoured Barcelona from the Champions League and helped put Chelsea on course for the European Cup?
Even if his goalscoring totals with Atletico Madrid leave much to be desired (and they probably will), Torres could still come up with the occasional moment to give the club's fans something to affectionately remember him by.
An important goal against Real Madrid in the Copa del Rey would be a start, and some more Champions League magic would go some distance toward resuscitating his reputation as well.
2. A Trophy
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It may be a version of history embraced by him and him alone, but on Monday Torres proclaimed his three-and-a-half years at Chelsea a success in light of the FA Cup, Europa League and Champions League titles secured during his time at the club.
"Chelsea gave me what I was looking for when I left Liverpool: trophies," he remarked on Monday, as per the Daily Mail. "I'll always see it as a success."
If silverware is what the 30-year-old is after at this stage of his career, and if he's not all that fussed by his contribution in securing it, he could be in store for additional success with Atletico Madrid.
Victory over Real Madrid in the last 16 of the Copa del Rey could set the stage for the club's second triumph in the competition in three seasons, and a winnable Champions League tie with Bayer Leverkusen awaits this winter as well. Then there is La Liga, in which Atletico trail leaders Real Madrid by just four points.
Torres' only championship during his first spell at the Calderon was the 2001-02 Segunda crown, and no doubt he'd like to win a major trophy with his boyhood club before retiring.
1. Happiness
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The most attainable and perhaps most important, personal target for Torres upon his return to Atletico Madrid is happiness.
If early returns are any indication he's already made a positive start in that regard.
"At last back home," he tweeted on Monday. "Thanks to all that have made this dream come true. Forza Atleti.
During his introductory press conference Torres also revealed the disappointment of his just-ended loan spell at AC Milan, telling AS Rossoneri manager Filippo Inzaghi "didn't count on me."
He added: "I'm going back to Atleti to find happiness."
Naturally, another barren patch in front of goal could make his life miserable, but even a modest goalscoring record, a memorable moment or two and, perhaps, a trophy could see him go out with a smile on his face.
At this point of his career, you feel that's all he's really after.
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