Mourinho Backs Fernando Torres to Succeed
Mandatory Credit: Mitchell Gunn-USA TODAY Sports
Chelsea FC manager Jose Mourinho backed Fernando Torres in a recent press conference and said that the striker has a future with the club despite reports to the contrary. Torres was left on the bench for the first leg of the Champions League tie against Paris Saint Germain after a poor showing against Premier League strugglers Crystal Palace. Torres came on in the second half but was ineffective for the Blues and made no impact on the game whatsoever.
Mourinho’s comments about Fernando Torres’s future with Chelsea:
"“Yes, he has a future. He has a contract, he’s a good professional, he works hard for the team and brings positive things to the team. Obviously we want him to score more goals, obviously he wants to score more goals, it’s not just me that wants it, he wants it. During his time at the club he’s had moments, some of them important moments, but he hasn’t had a lot of stability in his performances. He’s had moments with important goals, despite having not scored a lot during his time at Chelsea. We have six league matches and one Champions League match that can be transformed into three. I trust that he can have these moments.”"
Fernando Torres has indeed scored some important goals for Chelsea, especially in Europe. Most notably being the breakaway in Barcelona in 2011/12 and the opener in the early stages of the Europa League final in 2013 against Benfica. He has been in his best form in European competition but has struggled to make any real impact in the Premier League. Some say it is only against lesser competition that he scores but goals against Bayern Munich and Manchester City this year show otherwise.
Whatever the issue is with Torres and his inability to find consistent form, Jose Mourinho has not been able to solve it. Rafa Benitez did his part for the Spanish striker and coaxed 22 goals out of him, but that was in 64(!!) appearances and only eight came in the league. Chelsea and Torres will both benefit by parting ways but as for now Mourinho has done what he must and paid lip service to whatever future El Nino has left at the club.
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