Wednesday 27 April 2016 19:52, UK
Fernando Torres insists Atletico Madrid can make history by winning the Champions League and La Liga double this season.
The Spaniards are aiming to reach the final for the second time in three years but face a tough task against five-time winners Bayern Munich in the first leg of their semi-final at the Vicente Calderon before the return leg a week on Tuesday.
Torres was playing for Chelsea when Atletico reached the last four for the first time in 40 years two years ago and even scored for the Blues as the La Liga club went through 3-1 on aggregate.
The 32-year-old left Atletico in 2008 for Liverpool and then moved on to Stamford Bridge. During his time in England he won the European Championships twice and the World Cup with Spain as well as the Champions League with Chelsea.
But he returned to the Vicente Calderon in January 2015 hoping to get his hands on silverware with his boyhood club, and he says that winning the Champions League would be the greatest achievement of his career.
"I feel very lucky to have been with great teams. The national team gave me the chance to live some incredible nights and win big titles," said Torres.
"But for me personally nothing compares to what it would be like to do it with Atletico."
Atleti are also eyeing an unprecedented League and European cup double and go into the final three games of the La Liga season level on points with leaders Barcelona.
Torres, who has scored five goals in his last six games, is determined for this Atletico side to write themselves into the club's history books
What we want to do is write new history. Hopefully in a week's time we can say we have taken another step towards it.
"We have a fantastic opportunity in front of us, a great tie against one of the big favourites without doubt," he added.
"What we want to do is write new history. Hopefully in a week's time we can say we have taken another step towards it."
Atletico are expected to be missing one of their key defensive linchpins as Diego Godin is a major doubt due to a hamstring injury.
By contrast, Bayern's defence could be handed a huge boost by the return of German international Jerome Boateng as he made the trip to Madrid after three months out with a groin injury.
The German champions are desperate to reach the final in coach Pep Guardiola's final season in charge having fallen at the semi-final stage in the last two seasons to Spanish opposition in Barcelona and Real Madrid.
Xabi Alonso will anchor the Bayern midfield on his return to the Spanish capital after five seasons at Real Madrid, but was keen to highlight Atletico's defensive strengths and expects a difficult game.
"There are facets in which they are probably the best team in the world," said Alonso of Atletico's remarkable 32 clean sheets this season.
"They are in the top five of teams in Europe and they deserve to be there."
