– Ferdinand and Owen say the player acted ‘stupidly’
Rio Ferdinand and Michael Owen have feasted on Feranando Torres for ‘stupidly’ receiving a second yellow card which sent him out of the match between Barcelona and Atletico Madrid as early as the 35th minute, saying he let his team-mates down.
Torres walks off the ptch after his red card against Atletico Madrid
Torres put Atletico into the lead in the first leg of their Champions League quarter-final against Barcelona, only to be dismissed before half-time.
The player picked up a booking for a hack at Neymar, before going into an ill-advised challenge that left Sergio Busquets squirming on the ground.
That proved to be turning point in the match, with Barça making the most of their numerical advantage to snatch a 2 – 1 win.
Although, Coach Diego Simeone refused to blame Torres for his team’s defeat, Manchester United defender Ferdinand lambasted the striker for allowing the referee issuing him a second yellow.
“In today’s football, that’s a yellow card,” Ferdinand said on BT Sport.
“He’s on a yellow already… why give the ref the opportunity to even think about giving him (a second)? As a manager, you’d destroy him in the changing room after.
“He’s just let everybody down. The lads coming in will be looking at him and thinking, ‘Thanks mate. Cheers.”
According to former England striker Michael Owen, Torres acted stupidly on the two occasions he was shown a yellow.
“I thought he made a couple of shocking decisions,” said Owen.
“Both yellow cards were with Barcelona players going absolutely nowhere.
You do this in the last few seconds if you’re not on a yellow card, just to waste a bit of time.
“He’s just let everybody down. He almost needs a yellow card for stupidity.”