Former Liverpool boss backs Torres to find form at Chelsea
Rafael BenÃtez is confident mis-firing striker Fernando Torres will soon start scoring regularly for Chelsea
Former Liverpool manager Rafael BenÃtez believes it will not be long before Fernando Torres rediscovers his goalscoring form at Chelsea.
The 27-year-old Spain striker has only found the net once since completing his £50m move to Stamford Bridge from Anfield in January, and was dropped to the bench by Chelsea boss André Villas-Boas for the Blues’ win over Sunderland at the weekend.
But BenÃtez, who brought Torres to Liverpool from Atlético Madrid in 2007, is confident the forward will soon start firing in the goals for his new club.
“Chelsea signed him and now everybody is talking because they paid a big price,” BenÃtez told Sky Sports. “I was really worried at the beginning because you could see that he was not settled down.
“[But] I was watching Stoke against Chelsea and I was really happy with the way that he was doing things on the pitch. You could see that he was challenging for things, he was trying to be involved and he was sharp.
“He didn’t score, and people talk just about whether he is scoring or not, but believe me, I could see the real Torres there.”
Torres was prolific in front of goal during his spell at Anfield, scoring 81 goals in 142 games – and BenÃtez believes he is on the way back to recreating that kind of form for the Blues.
“He is a strong character,” BenÃtez continued. “He has a good mentality and he has determination now. He wants to win.
“[Whether] it will take some time or not, I don’t know, because the problem that he has is the competition in his own team. But in terms of his mentality, his character and the desire, I think he’s coming back.”
