Torres to return after head clash

The clash of heads reverberated around the stadium, everyone watching feared the worse, but Fernando Torres
 was only looking forward to getting back to training on 
Friday.

The 32-year-old Spanish striker was rushed to hospital
unconscious after being hit from behind by Deportivo La
Coruna’s Alex Bergantinos five minutes before the end of 
the game.

But after a night’s rest and with serious injury ruled out,
 Torres left hospital again Friday and sought to reassure
 fans.

“Everything is fine and fortunately, in a few days, I will 
be able to train with the others again,” Torres told reporters.

The former World Cup winner told how he remembered
 what happened just before the blow and how he recovered
consciousness in the ambulance heading to the hospital.

“Thank God, it was not serious,” Torres said, adding how
Bergantinos had gone to his hospital bed.

“Yesterday I was with Alex. He was worried but these are
things that happen in football and can happen to anyone.
“By luck it was just a scare and now I am counting the 
days to getting back to training.”

Torres gave his team a mighty scare however.
Players from both sides immediately called for urgent
 medical attention when he slumped to the ground unconscious.

Distressed Atletico defender Jose Maria Gimenez was
 seen crying. Deportivo fans gave the former Spanish international a standing ovation of encouragement as he 
was stretchered off.

But the striker sent out a Twitter message from hit
 hospital bed just after midnight and the club also said 
there was no apparent serious injury.

“Thanks to all of you who were worried for me and for your
messages of encouragement,” Torres said. “It was just a
scare. I hope to be back soon.”

“A cranial and cervical CT scan carried out on Fernando
 Torres has ruled out that the Rojiblanco striker has
 suffered any alterations or traumatic injuries,” Atletico said in a statement.


– Not good enough –

The club said that after leaving hospital, Torres would
 have to “observe a 48-hour rest.”

Atletico coach Diego Simeone acknowledged the 
widespread worries over the clash of heads but sought to
 play down the severity.

“The action was not pretty to watch but these are the
 events that unfortunately happen during a game. We
 wish Fernando all the best,” Simeone told a press conference after the game ended in a 1-1 draw.

“We are all scared,” Atletico left-back Filipe Luis told BeIN
Sports after the game.

Atletico’s Sime Vrsaljko and captain Gabi have been 
praised for reacting quickly to ensure Torres did not
 swallow his tongue whilst unconscious.

The visitors had to play out seven minutes of stoppage 
time with 10 men as they had already made all three substitutions.

Former West Bromwich Albion manager Pepe Mel was making his bow as Deportivo coach after only being hired 
on Wednesday.

And the hosts made the perfect start when Florin Andone
capitalised on a poor goal kick from Jan Oblak to run 
through and slot past the Slovenian.

Atletico equalised in stunning fashion 22 minutes from 
time when Antoine Griezmann thrashed home a 30-yard shot.