Liverpool striker Fernando Torres has paid a glowing tribute to manager Rafa Benítez for helping him become a better player during his two seasons in England.
The Spanish striker arrived at Anfield in 2007 from Atlético Madrid for a club-record fee of £21 million, and the move has proved money well spent with the 25-year-old notching an incredible 50 goals in just 84 appearances for the Reds.
And Torres, who signed an improved contract in May, believes the influence of Benítez is a major reason for his development into one of the finest strikers in world football.
"Rafa concentrates on the professional side of things," Torres told the club's official website.
"He tries to improve every minor detail and movement you carry out during the course of a game, and he also explains the reasons behind his decisions.
"He's obsessed that you understand what you are doing and why. He's not happy that you do things just because he tells you that something has to be done.
"He says, 'Do it like this. Do you understand why you are being told to do so? No? We'll go through it again then'.
"I remember when I signed for the club people were questioning me as a goalscorer. I received criticism because I wasn't getting goals.
"The first thing he told me was that I was signed to score goals. Benítez is adamant that I live in the area because that's where you get goals.
"That was the first thing he told me, the wing is for the wingers, and that the striker should be focused on the two rival centre-backs."
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The Spanish striker arrived at Anfield in 2007 from Atlético Madrid for a club-record fee of £21 million, and the move has proved money well spent with the 25-year-old notching an incredible 50 goals in just 84 appearances for the Reds.
And Torres, who signed an improved contract in May, believes the influence of Benítez is a major reason for his development into one of the finest strikers in world football.
"Rafa concentrates on the professional side of things," Torres told the club's official website.
"He tries to improve every minor detail and movement you carry out during the course of a game, and he also explains the reasons behind his decisions.
"He's obsessed that you understand what you are doing and why. He's not happy that you do things just because he tells you that something has to be done.
"He says, 'Do it like this. Do you understand why you are being told to do so? No? We'll go through it again then'.
"I remember when I signed for the club people were questioning me as a goalscorer. I received criticism because I wasn't getting goals.
"The first thing he told me was that I was signed to score goals. Benítez is adamant that I live in the area because that's where you get goals.
"That was the first thing he told me, the wing is for the wingers, and that the striker should be focused on the two rival centre-backs."
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