Benitez to risk Torres despite need for hernia op!
Torres is close to hernia op
The Liverpool manager Rafael Benitez has decided to risk playing Fernando Torres in the crucial Champions League match at Lyon tomorrow, despite the Spanish international being close to needing an operation on his hernia.
With Liverpool’s injury list restricting his choices, Benitez is going to take a huge risk with Torres as his team goes into a must-win game in France.
“We are trying to manage because Torres was close to having an operation,” said Benítez. “Still this morning, two days after the game, he is feeling something. He is not comfortable. He has not got the power he had before, so we have to manage and try to protect him. He cannot play well if you keep pushing him. Maybe if you push him he will be injured for a long time. We have to take Fernando to Lyon because we don’t have too many options. We have to keep working with him and the rest of the players.”
Liverpool have travelled to France without Steven Gerrard, Martin Skrtel, Albert Riera and Martin Kelly. But Aquilani, Johnson, Ngog, Glen Johnson, Aurelio and Agger all got on the plane but will face late fitness tests to see if they can get on the pitch
“So I am really surprised with the critics. When you talk about big names, people just analyse the names and not how the player is when he is on the pitch. He was not 100% fit. We have to take Fernando to Lyon because we don’t have too many options. We have to keep working with him and the rest of the players.”
“Aquilani trained today but was a little bit weak,” Benítez continued. “Hopefully in two days’ time he will be better. Gerrard won’t travel to Lyon. He has no chance. He is improving but we have to wait. He has had an injection but we have to wait two or three days and see how he reacts. Johnson is training and working with the physios but he is a doubt at this moment. He will travel to Lyon and we will see.”
All-in-all thinks are not looking too good for Liverpool ahead of such an important game, but if Torres needs to rest or risk needing an operation, should Benitez push him any further?
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