Torres ´a better player´ since Chelsea move

Chelsea striker Fernando Torres has revealed he will not celebrate if he scores against Atletico Madrid in Friday’s UEFA Super Cup clash.

The Spaniard played for Atletico for 12 years after joining the club at the age of 11, before leaving in 2007 to join Liverpool.

Torres admitted the affection he still feels for his boyhood club would stop him from celebrating if he were to find the net in Friday’s game.

“If a goal is scored I will not celebrate it. It couldn’t be more special. Their fans know I was one of them. I spent 12 years of my life there,” Torres told reporters on Thursday.

“I was captain there and I am one of them. I am an Atletico fan, I am a supporter. But on Friday, all I want to do is win this cup for Chelsea.

“It will be strange for me because for 90 minutes I will not be an Atletico fan but I will be again after the match is over.”

The 28-year-old feels he is finally back to his best after struggling for over a year with a lack of form following his 50-million-pound move to Chelsea in January 2011.

Torres even believes he has become more of a team player since joining the Blues, as he has contributed more assists than he has done in any stage of his career.

“The transition from Liverpool to Chelsea was harder than I thought it was going to be but it has made me a stronger person and a better player,” Torres said.

“I am a stronger person because after sitting on the bench, once for eight matches in a row, I began to understand my team-mates better.

“It took me back to my past when I was 17 or 18 at Atletico and had to fight every day for my place in the team. I don’t want to go back to that.

“I am a better player now than I was when I was at Liverpool, I can play outside the box better, I can link up better. It was a difficult season last season but I would not change anything – it helped me a lot.”

The Spain international has denied criticising his club after stating in May he wasn’t pleased with the way he was being utilised.

“I never said bad things about Chelsea. I know they made a big effort to buy me,” he said.