Torres explains Liverpool exit

08 February 2011 10:30

Fernando Torres has admitted he was lacking enthusiasm at Liverpool and that things looked black before he joined Chelsea on transfer deadline day.

The Spain striker moved to Stamford Bridge for £50million last week after three-and-a-half years on Merseyside.

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And although he concedes he has joined a "smaller club", he believes it was a move he needed to reignite his love of the game, and he told Spanish radio station Cadena Ser: "Money was not important. I left to improve sporting-wise. I thought I would stay one more year and take it as a transition season. But a time comes when you lose enthusiasm."

He added: "You see those in the Spanish national team are playing at a different level.

"Then when everything looked black, Chelsea came and showed a real interest."

Torres is nevertheless grateful to his former club.

"Liverpool will always be very special to me," he added. "Because of its history, Liverpool is a bigger club but it's going through a difficult time.

"Chelsea is like Manchester United, the strongest over the last 10 years.

"One is not better than the other, I'm just happy to have had the fortune of playing for both of them.

"I have been pleasantly surprised by the atmosphere in the Chelsea changing room. I thought it would be more distant but the atmosphere is very good, they laugh, they joke. It's nice."

Source: PA