Torres not angry with coach

Spaniard plays down talk of unrest after he was substituted

By James Dall   Last updated: 13th June 2008

Torres not angry with coach

Torres: Denies disrespect

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Spain striker Fernando Torres has played down talk of a rift between him and manager Luis Aragones.

Torres looked unimpressed after he was substituted in the second half of Spain's 4-1 triumph over Russia.

The 24-year-old, who played under Aragones at Atletico Madrid, admits he was frustrated to be replaced but has moved on from the incident and is looking to the Spaniard's next Euro 2008 Group D match against Sweden.

"I was angry with myself and it isn't true that I refused to shake the coach's hand," Torres told Spanish radio station Cadena Ser on Friday.

Disrespect

"Luis was six metres away from me, we weren't that close and I would never show any disrespect to a coach.

"I know that I can't get angry for more than 30 seconds when I've got team-mates next to me who didn't play (in the game) at all.

"The big advantage of having an ex-player as the coach is that he has experienced these things hundreds to times.

"Luis showed me the rules of dressing room when I was 16-years-old and the important thing is that what happens is left on the pitch."