The Sports Psychology Weblog
Today's Sports Psychology comes after Fernando Torres, publicly states that it would be a mistake to sack Rafa Benitez.
Football Psychology: Fernando Torres - Don't Sack Rafa!
So Fernando Torres believes that the Liverpool players are the ones solely responsible for their current plight. Not under-pressure manager, Rafael Benitez.
It's an interesting statement from Torres. Most external observers would presume that if players are under-performing, then it is because the manager is not getting the best from them.
So, reading between the lines, Torres is intimating that some Liverpool players are simply not pulling their weight. And that Benitez cannot solve the problem. But the dressing-room can.
But will they? Will the dressing room solve the problem? Will the leaders challenge the under-achievers? Or is the dull cloud of mediocrity affecting everyone? Like a mood of melancholy has settled over Anfield.
Torres is trying to counter-act that prevailing mood, with his public statement. But it will take more than that. It will take honesty and frank talk from the players.
Leading to personal admissions of under-performance, and maybe less than committed attitudes. If that happens, Liverpool may turn their season around. But the possibility exists, that it may already be far too late.
Benitez can be thankful, that Torres has shown such loyalty in him. He may need a few more of his players to show such trust, if he is to retain his status at Anfield.
