Chelsea midfielder Oriol Romeu has stated that team-mate Fernando Torres has defied his critics with good performances of late.
The Spain international has not hit the back of the net for club or country in over 13 hours of action, but has improved other facets of his game in recent times.
Despite not actually getting on the scoresheet, Romeu thinks Torres is playing an important role in Chelsea’s chances of success.
“People used to say that if he doesn’t score then he is not playing good, but that is not true,” Romeu told the club’s official website.
“He is playing good and he helped us to get the goals. He was playing very good in the game at Wolves and now he played another big game for us.
“Every ball, he fights and he is big player for us.
“If he is happy, if he is enjoying it on the pitch then he is going to play better and he helps us much more than if he is not enjoying it on the pitch.
“He is playing very good in the two last games and that is good news for us,” he concluded.
*
*
Meanwhile, Blues coach Steve Holland has confirmed that Torres is taking extra training sessions in a bid to end the goal-drought.
“Fernando is working very hard at his finishing in training. We do a lot of finishing as part of the sessions anyway but he is doing extra at the end of every session during the week,” the trainer told Chelsea TV.
“His finishing is looking very good in training, the ball is flying in. I have personally spent some time with him on making sure he’s in the right position.
“Sometimes when you’re trying hard to score, you end up in areas where you’re less likely to score. It’s not a bad crime, it’s only because he’s so determined,” he concluded.
More responsibility is currently on Torres’ shoulders due to the absence of Didier Drogba, who is on international duty at the African Cup of Nations.
