Chelsea FC’s most underrated players of the past 15 years
Fernando Torres – Travis Tyler
The weight of expectation can be a great burden.
Fernando Torres’ career was defined by expectations. Club captain at 19. Liverpool and Chelsea’s most expensive signings ever. A winner of both the European Championships and the World Cup.
All these things made many believe that Torres would soon be the world’s greatest striker. Of course, few players ever live up to such a high standard.
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He started his Blue career disastrously, scoring one goal in 18 appearances. Manager after manager tried to get the best out of him with varying degrees of success. Though he was always supported by the Stamford Bridge faithful, few were upset when returned to Spain.
At the time, Torres did not appear to be great. But in hindsight, he was responsible for vital moments in club history. Torres scored the goal that led Chelsea to the Champion’s League final over Barcelona. Torres was there when Chelsea won the Champion’s League in Munich, winning the corner from which Drogba scored his header.
And when Chelsea unfortunately dropped into the Europa League the following season, Torres found scoring form to push Chelsea all the way to winning the trophy.
Torres’ statistical legacy is 45 goals and 35 assists in 172 appearances. But the stats never show how important those goals and assists were. They also do not show how Torres played himself into the ground for Chelsea.
Torres gave his all for the club, and that is what makes him great at the end of the day.