Rafa Benitez was left fuming last night after star striker Fernando Torres had his dream of a return to Madrid shattered.
The Liverpool manager hit the roof when his inspirational forward limped off just 16 minutes into Spain's World Cup qualifer in Belgium on Wednesday night and will be ruled out for up to 15 days.
Tests yesterday confirmed the hamstring problem will keep Torres out for at least three matches, causing him to miss the Premier Leagu games against Wigan and Chelsea, as well as the trip to Atletico Madrid in the Champions League.
Torres was desperate to return to his former club Atletico, and he is sure to do everything he can to be fit for the tie in the Vicente Calderon stadium next week.
But Benitez could not hide his fury at what he says is an overcrowded international fixture list that has added to Torres' injury situation.
The striker has been injured THREE times playing for his country in the last year.
And Benitez blasted: "I am very disappointed about this because it now looks like we will lose Fernando for three very important games. There are too many international matches and the demands on the players are too much.
"Someone needs to analyse this because it is putting the players at risk of injury."
His mood was not improved when Ryan Babel picked up an ankle injury with Holland, and Israel skipper Yossi Benayoun aggravated a toe injury in the 1-1 Latvia draw.
The Anfield chief is a longstanding critic of the crowded international calendar, claiming that many games are meaningless due to the poor standard of some nations.
Rafa added: "There are too many games in the qualifiers which are not competitive.
"These fixtures are unnecessary - and maybe it would be better if the weaker countries played one another and the best of them went to play the stronger nations in the qualifiers."
Torres was devastated on Wednesday night, and his tears when he limped off with yet another hamstring injury showed just how disappointed he feels.
The Liverpool manager hit the roof when his inspirational forward limped off just 16 minutes into Spain's World Cup qualifer in Belgium on Wednesday night and will be ruled out for up to 15 days.
Tests yesterday confirmed the hamstring problem will keep Torres out for at least three matches, causing him to miss the Premier Leagu games against Wigan and Chelsea, as well as the trip to Atletico Madrid in the Champions League.
Torres was desperate to return to his former club Atletico, and he is sure to do everything he can to be fit for the tie in the Vicente Calderon stadium next week.
But Benitez could not hide his fury at what he says is an overcrowded international fixture list that has added to Torres' injury situation.
The striker has been injured THREE times playing for his country in the last year.
And Benitez blasted: "I am very disappointed about this because it now looks like we will lose Fernando for three very important games. There are too many international matches and the demands on the players are too much.
"Someone needs to analyse this because it is putting the players at risk of injury."
His mood was not improved when Ryan Babel picked up an ankle injury with Holland, and Israel skipper Yossi Benayoun aggravated a toe injury in the 1-1 Latvia draw.
The Anfield chief is a longstanding critic of the crowded international calendar, claiming that many games are meaningless due to the poor standard of some nations.
Rafa added: "There are too many games in the qualifiers which are not competitive.
"These fixtures are unnecessary - and maybe it would be better if the weaker countries played one another and the best of them went to play the stronger nations in the qualifiers."
Torres was devastated on Wednesday night, and his tears when he limped off with yet another hamstring injury showed just how disappointed he feels.
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