Source: Daily_Mail
HATCHET MAN: Torres is no toro, he's a whippet so bully-boy Pepe's threat to snuff out the 'big powe
Good news at last for Liverpool fans. Steven Gerrard may not be completely fit and Rafael Benitez's future at the club remains uncertain but at least Real Madrid are ready to push the self-destruct button in the Champions League. Their defender Pepe is, anyway. He seems to think he can bully Fernando Torres out of his team's last-16 first leg tonight as the Spanish side make progress towards the next round.The Liverpool striker doesn't have the best of records against Madrid and Pepe has managed to convince himself he can prevent a change of fortune by going into battle. He loves a physical battle: But Pepe (left) will have to catch Fernando Torres first But unless the bragging about his brawn was lost in translation, Pepe seems ready to give Liverpool and Benitez a stay of execution in a season which threatens to fall apart.'I love going face-to face with a big powerful striker like Torres because I'm made to go clattering into challenges and there's nothing I enjoy better than massive physical battles,' he is reported to have said. More from Hatchet Man. HATCHET MAN: There's nothing special about Mourinho any more - Inter looked second-rate against United25/02/09 HATCHET MAN: Memo to Martin O'Neill - You're either a poor manager or Aston Villa are a poor side25/02/09 HATCHET MAN: Carling Cup Final boost for Spurs as worse Brazilian keeper than Gomes unearthed in Spain25/02/09 HATCHET MAN: Unprofessional Toure should be told: This is the Champions League, not the Sunday League25/02/09 HATCHET MAN: I need Arshavin because Arsenal are not good enough to win the Champions League without him - desperate Wenger rages at 'unfair' cup-tied rule24/02/09 HATCHET MAN: Big Sam wants justice for Ronaldo's kick at Dunn - but only if it benefits Blackburn and nobody else whatsoever24/02/09 HATCHET MAN: Bellamy heals the Robinho 'rift' by insisting: You just need to play a lot better, that's all24/02/09 HATCHET MAN: Villa boss O'Neill has eight days to prove he's a great manager or watch his dream fade and die24/02/09 VIEW FULL ARCHIVE Is he talking about the same Torres, Liverpool's tall but moderately built striker who relies on his speed and guile rather than his frame to out-manoeuvre defenders?Trying to smash up Liverpool's goalscorer is about the last thing he should be considering unless he wants to be made to look a fool as Liverpool chalk up enough away goals to see them through to the quarter finals. It would play right into Torres' hands.