Football
9y

Fernando Torres says he's playing at '200 percent'

Returning Atletico Madrid hero Fernando Torres said he felt at "200 percent" after his double strike saw his side draw 2-2 at Real Madrid on Thursday night in their Copa del Rey last 16 second leg, sending the Rojiblancos through 4-2 on aggregate to meet Barcelona in the next round.

On the night Torres completely upstaged Madrid talisman Cristiano Ronaldo, who had showed off his latest Ballon d'Or trophy to the stadium pre-game, by notching two excellent strikers finishes early in both halves.

Although Sergio Ramos and Ronaldo twice headed Madrid back level on the night, the result means Atletico have now overcome their much-richer city rivals in three competitions already this season.

Torres said on Canal Plus after the game that he was very happy with how the 90 minutes had gone.

"We must enjoy this," Torres said. "It was a nice game, although I have had happier days at Atletico. I feel at 200 percent. I am very happy. It was a game in which we felt comfortable due to the result in the first game. The goal so early meant we could play the game we wanted to. We never saw the tie was in danger, we were never feeling worried."

Torres, who so often looked a forlorn figure through recent years at Chelsea, and during his cut-short loan spell at Milan during the first half of the current campaign, was smiling broadly as he was substituted here with the tie all but decided. The 29-year-old said he had just been overjoyed to have scored at a stadium where he had drawn blanks on all six previous visits.

"The smile was as we were winning, and for scoring my first two goals," he said. "And even more for having done it at a stadium where I had never scored before. To play at the Bernabeu is difficult. When they scored they thought they had a chance, but the 1-2 meant we were close to going through."

There were also generous words for attacking partner Antoine Griezmann, who laid on both goals in an outstanding all-round display.

"Today I finished [the goals] well, but it was thanks to Griezmann," Torres said. "We must let him grow. He is a very important player for us, and will be even more in the future. We must enjoy it with him, and let him grow."

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