What Went Wrong at Chelsea FC For Fernando Torres?

Mandatory Credit: Mitchell Gunn-USA TODAY Sports

With all the rumors of Chelsea FC and Fernando Torres reaching an agreement for the Spaniard to leave Stamford Bridge, presumably for the sunny pastures of Milan.

So, this begs the question that many have asked for years: What has gone wrong for Fernando Torres at Chelsea?

I’ll attempt to answer this briefly.

Prior to being purchased by the Blues, Fernando Torres was considered one of the best strikers in all of football. During his time at Liverpool, Torres was essential in their (relatively limited) successes. While at Anfield Torres scored 81 goals in 142 appearances, including 33 goals in his first season. Torres was adept at linking up with Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard and the two of them created one of the more dangerous attacking forces in English football.

The problem for Fernando began rather quickly, as he was not assured of first team football despite the £50M transfer fee Chelsea paid to move Torres from Anfield to Stamford Bridge.

When he was granted first team football, Fernando found the problems compounded by a completely different style from his successful stints at Liverpool and Atletico Madrid. Chelsea played a controlling style, where build up play was key and the striker would be playing primarily alone in front of goal or the defender.

At Liverpool, Torres was given the space necessary to move about and make runs behind the defense where players like Steven Gerrard and Xabi Alonso would thread the ball to his feet where Fernando’s speed and finishing abilities would allow him to bang in goals.

Chelsea forced Torres to play football completely different from what Torres was used to at the club or national level, and to top it off he was playing behind club legend Didier Drogba, who was a king at playing in this style.

Beyond a poor style fit, Torres was also recovering from a knee injury, which impacted his ability to make runs into space. Without his blistering pace, his confidence wavered, his finishing suffered.

Chelsea has had some spectacular misses from good positions over their history, very club has. However it seems that during the last 4 years of Fernando Torres being a Chelsea striker, those numbers have increased exponentially. Chance after chance was wasted, and after each poor choice or horrific miss Fernando continued to lose confidence.

It was never to truly return.

Torres did have some high points for Chelsea, the most notable for me was scoring the goal that officially sent us through to the 2011/12 UEFA Champions League Final against Bayern Munich. His transfer fee was re-payed in my mind that night, and the relief he seemed to feel was palpable through the TV screens.

I recall in 2007 or 2008 telling my friend that one day I would love to see Fernando Torres in a Chelsea kit; at the time he scoffed in amusement that a scouser would join us but agreed it would be nice.

When Torres signed, I was ecstatic. I’ve always loved him as a player, despite his time at Liverpoool.

Now, I’m hoping he goes. Not out of anger or anything of that matter, I just want Fernando Torres to succeed again and it is clear that the situation at Chelsea has become untenable.

I had hoped in my heart that we would see a resurgence of El Niño at Stamford Bridge, leading us to domestic and international glory. That was not to be, and now I wish the best for Fernando.

I hope that, if AC Milan truly do purchase him, he scores 25 goals a season for them and they return to the top of the Italian table.

If AC Milan cannot keep him, I hope he is able to return home to Atletico Madrid. Atléti is the one club that has always been closest to his heart, and the Vincente Calderone stadium would love to welcome a favored son home.

So, if all this is true, best of luck Fernando. I wish you many successes in the rest of your career. You’ve always been a favorite player of mine, and you’ll continue to be so.

UTC!

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