Lehmann: “Torres not in same league as Henry”

Lehmann: “Torres not in same league as Henry”

Being at the losing end of the Euro2008 has certainly affected Jens Lehmann’s judgment. Lehmann believes that Fernando Torres isn’t quite in the same league as Theirry Henry.

“Well, he scored and that’s what you have to do as a striker but you’re asking someone who played together for years with Thierry Henry and he was a God, performance-wise, when he was in England.”

“So when you take him and compare him to other strikers, there’s a difference and Torres is definitely still not at Thierry’s level.

“Yes he could get there - but it will take him a while.”

Source Quote: Mail Online

By fiz
(June 30, 2008)

Comments (14) · Related · Tools

Onion Fruit on June 30th, 2008 1:13 pm

True
Eran on June 30th, 2008 1:14 pm

What a bitter bitter person.
He should play for Everton.
Liverbird on June 30th, 2008 1:26 pm

We all know Thierry Henry was shite his first season in England, So Torres will be better than Henry ever was, cos Torres is a better player than Henry at the same age…

But really it just smacks of sour grapes!

C’mon Torres lad keep them goals coming..
YNWA ^_^
Richard on June 30th, 2008 1:30 pm

He hasn’t really said anything wrong. If Fernando can re-produce last seasons form and dominate games for the next 4-5 years then he will be in that bracket.
Spike on June 30th, 2008 1:40 pm

If Torres can do what he did last season for 6 or 7 consecutive seasons then, he may be considered in the same league as Henry.

A player who was a winger till he came to England.

Lehmann is just telling it as he sees it and not surprisingly Liverpool fans don’t agree.

But then he is your player, for now, so thats pretty understandable.
Raakel on June 30th, 2008 1:42 pm

Nando has just won his 1st trophy. To say he’s better AT THE MOMENT than Henry was in his prime is just ridiculous. Henry won trophies and was a monster for Arsenal year in year out until injuries caught up. Also he is the leading scorer for French national team ever. We’ll see in 3-4 years if Nando can do what Henry did regularly for Arsenal.
Spike on June 30th, 2008 1:43 pm

Liverbird;

That is hilarious!

Torres will be better coz he is better than henry at the same age!!!!!
Are we talking about purely scoring goals or the huge number of assists too?

Come on!
Richard on June 30th, 2008 1:43 pm

Henry was actually 21 when Arsenal brought him and he scored 26 goals in his first season which wasn’t bad for a converted winger.

For Torres to be better than Henry ever was he’d also have to break the EPL assists record of 23 in a season.
fiz on June 30th, 2008 1:50 pm

I think this has nothing to do with Henry. I’m sure many Liverpool fans regard Henry as one of the top strikers in the world.

It’s about Lehmann who’s a little bitter after the loss.
What'sThat?? on June 30th, 2008 5:48 pm

Liverpool fans are so funny. Torres has pace and knows where the goal is….that is it.

Henry had more pace, scored spectacular goals week in week out (did not need through balls put on a plate for him most games) and regularly had more assists than any other player.

Simply no comparison at all. Henry is a far better footballer than Torres full stop!! As pure finishers, Torres has a lot to do to be mentioned in the same breath as Henry. Probably too much unfortunatley for you google eyed scousers. As for beating players, do me a favour. Henry would regularly beat 5 or 6 players on his own in a crowded space….one certain goal against Liverpool springs to mind….leaving 3 defenders on their aris, and going past about 8 in total. And to prove it was no fluke, he beat the whole Spurs team for goal of the season a couple of years ago too. Torres will never be able to do any of this.

Torres, one trick pony…
WattagoalbyRiise on June 30th, 2008 6:22 pm

Nice of Torres to turn up in a big game wasn’t it?

Henry can skin the Spurs defence all he wants, but rarely did he emerge in a high-pressure situation.

Torres a one-trick pony?
Henry a flat-track bully…
Richard on June 30th, 2008 7:05 pm

Rarely did Henry emerge in a high pressure situation?

A hat-trick away at Roma in the CL
A brace against a Inter in the San Siro
The winner in the Bernebeu
Regularly scored against United and Chelski and Sp*rs.

No one is saying Torres is bad, just that he shouldnt be compared with Henry yet.
WattagoalbyRiise on June 30th, 2008 11:02 pm

In terms of ability, I have never seen Torres compared with Henry apart from in this news article. I don’t know where Lehman is getting the idea that people see a bit of Henry in Torres, because no-one has ever said that.

My only conclusion is that he is getting jealous at the amount of press Torres is getting, and just wants to remind people about Henry. I don’t know why because they are two very different players. Torres is no play-maker, because he didn’t start his career on the wing, and so does not have the attributes needed to be that sort of player. (Babel on the other hand…)

Anyway, Torres should be compared more to Van Nistelrooy. Both are goal-poachers who are clinical in and around the box. If thats cause to have a slant at Fernando Torres, then thats cause to have a slant at Ruud Van Nistelrooy.
Liverbird on July 1st, 2008 10:36 am

Lehman is just tryin to take the shine off Torres and Spain’s achievements.. Like I said sour grapes!

Spike I am a funny guy your right, but mark my words, Torres will be the best striker the EPL has ever had by the time he leaves…

By the way Spike We’ve Won it Five Times you know!!! you’ve won f**k all, really mate…

C’mon Torres lad keep them goals coming..
YNWA ^_^