Chelsea’s Fernando Torres enjoying his football again, says Juan Mata

Juan Mata believes Fernando Torres is enjoying his football again – and reveals the pair are close both on and off the pitch.

The Spanish pair have been forced to win over new Blues manager Jose Mourinho this season after Rafael Benitez left the west London club in the summer.

Torres appears to be turning a corner following a run of three goals in two games, whilst Mata is continuing to fight to win back his first-team place.

And Chelsea’s back-to-back player of the year revealed he shares a special friendship with Torres, revealing the pair have supported each other through difficult times at the Blues.

“We have a very good relationship. Apart from Fernando being a star footballer or one of the biggest strikers in the world I like the relationship we have as friends, as man-to-man,” Mata told the London Evening Standard.

“More than any advice what you need when you are going through a bad moment is to feel tht you have your people around you.

“That’s what I feel with all my team-mates, including Fernando. I feel that they like me. I feel that they are with me.

“When Fernando was in a bad moment, the only thing I tried to do is be with him because it’s what he needed and he’s being fantastic with me as well.

“We spend a lot of time together. I know him very well. I know how good he is mentally.

“He’s had difficult moments since he came but now he looks like he is happy. He deserves it. I hope he scores more, he player more and continues to enjoy himself on the pitch.

“I can see him enjoying his football again and that’s important.”