FERNANDO TORRES FANS

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Fernando Torres has said that he is still adapting to the way Chelsea play, as he aims to return to his best form. The Spaniard was signed from Liverpool for a whopping transfer fee of £ 50 million, but he has been a major disappointment at the club. He has managed just a handful of goals in almost 100 appearances for the club, but this season has been promising for the striker. He has managed to find the back of the net on 19 occasions in all competitions, but he has also been especially good in European competitions.

Torres has said that the arrival of several new players like Eden Hazard and Oscar has changed the way Chelsea have played. Hence, he has been added into the new style of play, which has not been easy, but he has hope that the next season will turn out much more positive. Torres has been starting almost every match for Chelsea this season in the absence of competition. Only after the arrival of Demba Ba for Newcastle United in the January transfer window has he been given competition for the starting places.

The 29-year-old, though, has said that he would welcome even more competition in the form of new strikers, which the club are hoping to sign in the summer. “This season has been better but not at the level I want to be. Not a better player. It’s different. We have a different team, a different style, very quick. It’s not been an easy season for anyone. New players come and they have been important players for the team. We are adapting to them. I think Chelsea has a top team and we always have the ball,” said Torres ahead of the match with FC Basel in Europa league on Thursday night.

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Chelsea needed a late goal from Eden Hazard in order to progress into the last 16 stage of the Europa league. The 1-1 draw against Sparta Prague helped Chelsea move into the next round on aggregate victory.

However, all the talk after the match has been about the form of the striker Fernando Torres. The Spaniard has managed just one goal in his last 14 matches for the club. That solitary goal came in the match against League One opposition Brentford. However, the manager Rafa Benitez refused to criticise the 28-year-old by saying that he wants to look at the positive aspects. Read more »

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The Chelsea manager Rafa Benitez has defended the form of the striker Fernando Torres, who once again could not manage to get on the scoresheet. The Spaniard has been on a run of just one goal in more than 10 matches since the turn of the year. He appeared to be prevented by the arrival of Benitez after a run of six goals in just seven matches, but the spark has once again gone out of the 27-year-old. Torres looked extremely disinterested in the recent Europa league match against Sparta Prague. Chelsea managed to come out with a victory in the first leg courtesy of a lone goal from the midfielder Oscar.

This has put them in a strong position to qualify for the next round of the competition, but there has been heavy criticism of the striker Torres after yet another poor performance. The striker has not managed to find the net since the turn of the year apart from the solitary goal against League One opposition Brentford in the FA Cup. Chelsea missed a number of play opportunities in the first half with Torres mainly guilty of them. He also did not help his teammates create opportunities as well, but Benitez defended his fellow countryman by choosing to praise his work rate.

“His work rate today was really good and thanks to him the rest of the team, especially the second line of offensive players, they could create. His job today was push and run and keep their defenders deep so he could create space for the other players. Everybody expects from a striker just to score goals, but he’s doing also a great job for the team,” said Benitez. As a result of this victory, pressure is slightly eased on the Spaniard after the 4-0 win over Wigan during the weekend.

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Fernando Torres has been the lone striker for Chelsea through to the season after the current Liverpool man Daniel Sturridge was mostly injured or not selected during the last six months. As a result, Torres has played almost every game for Chelsea without a break. The arrival of the £ 7 million hitman Demba Ba from Newcastle United a few weeks ago provides Benitez with the opportunity to rest Torres. The £ 50 million man has struggled for form of a consistent basis, but he has managed to score 14 goals in all competitions.

He is the top scorer at the club, but the recent performances have dipped. Benitez has said that this has been due to the lack of rest for the striker. Now that he has Demba Ba at his disposal, Benitez has confirmed that he intends to provide Torres with more rest in the coming weeks. Immediately after the arrival of Benitez, Torres sparked into life and scored on a consistent basis. However, the form has deserted him in the last few weeks. His last goal for the club came in the 8-0 victory over Aston Villa almost a month ago at Stamford Bridge. Benitez has said that Torres will play much better when he is fresh and fit.

“Torres is a Chelsea player and the fans have to understand that he will always do his best. It is really important for everyone to understand the way to win is to win together. Hopefully we can change that now if Torres can rest. He will be fresher and fitter and play at the level we know he can play,” said the Chelsea manager. Torres had the unwavering support of the Chelsea fans until recently. His poor performances have led to the Chelsea fans booing their own player on certain occasions.

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