Xabi backs Fernando

Xabi Alonso has backed fellow Spaniard Fernando Torres to make a success of his Liverpool career, just hours ahead of the players debut – expected tomorrow evening as the reds take on Werder Bremen in a friendly in Switzerland.

Xabi Alonso – who has now been at Liverpool for nearly 3 years said:

“I’ve known Torres, of course, since he first started playing in Spain.

“I think he can handle the pressure because he’s experienced similar while at Atletico Madrid.

“Mentally, he is strong enough to deal with this. He knows there will be a lot of focus on him, particularly in the early days, but once he’s scored his first goal that immediate pressure comes off.

“Fernando is someone who likes to work for his team. He always looks for the spaces and he’s also someone who likes it played into his feet, which is good for the midfielders because we can use different options when looking to pass to him.

“He is so quick, he will cause a lot of problems for defenders. In the Premiership, the defenders are really strong, but I hope he will be able to get the better of them.”

Off the pitch, Fernando is settling in well according to Alonso:

“We know Liverpool is different to other clubs, but that can be to his advantage. There are a lot of players here who’ve already achieved good things in the last few years, and it is our job to help him settle into the club as soon as possible.

“If we do that, it will allow him to show everyone what he’s capable of.

“Of course we’ve been telling him about the city. I remember when I arrived – I tried to learn about the place as quickly as possible.”