Fernando Torres has revealed that Rafael Benitez and Steven Gerrard inspired him to his sensational debut Premier League season with Liverpool.
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The Reds striker smashed home 33 goals for the Merseysiders, the best-ever tally in a debut campaign for a foreign player, and claims it was from manager Benitez and captain Gerrard that he drew his inspiration.
"There are days when you think: 'My God, this guy (Benitez) doesn't let you breathe'," said Torres.
"At times like that, you don't realise that all he wants is for you to improve.
"When you are in a team where things are going mostly well, players tend to relax. But you must always push yourself. Never become complacent; you try to do your best every single day.
"At a club like Liverpool, you can't sit back after scoring 20-odd goals and say: 'Well, that's it.' After you score 20, Benitez is at you during the next training session and stays on top of you all day, all week.
"He tells you to go off on your own and do new exercises. I want to progress in life, not relax, not be complacent, and you need someone close to you telling you to keep at it. It is impossible to do it otherwise.
"We don't always fancy someone that close but, in the long term, I am sure that everybody will thank him for it."
Barclays Premier League
The Reds striker smashed home 33 goals for the Merseysiders, the best-ever tally in a debut campaign for a foreign player, and claims it was from manager Benitez and captain Gerrard that he drew his inspiration.
"There are days when you think: 'My God, this guy (Benitez) doesn't let you breathe'," said Torres.
"At times like that, you don't realise that all he wants is for you to improve.
"When you are in a team where things are going mostly well, players tend to relax. But you must always push yourself. Never become complacent; you try to do your best every single day.
"At a club like Liverpool, you can't sit back after scoring 20-odd goals and say: 'Well, that's it.' After you score 20, Benitez is at you during the next training session and stays on top of you all day, all week.
"He tells you to go off on your own and do new exercises. I want to progress in life, not relax, not be complacent, and you need someone close to you telling you to keep at it. It is impossible to do it otherwise.
"We don't always fancy someone that close but, in the long term, I am sure that everybody will thank him for it."