Jose Mourinho has publicly back Fernando Torres and wants to help the forward regain some of his old magic by teaching his team-mates how to utilise his best qualities.
The Spanish international has not been able to replicate the form he enjoyed during his days at Liverpool since making the switch to Stamford Bridge but there were signs of it at times last season despite a dreadful return in league goals.
His role in the squad has been questioned all summer, especially if a new forward like Wayne Rooney arrives as it will knock him down the pecking order, but it’s doubtful he’s going anywhere and I believe Mourinho backs himself to help the 29-year-old.
Mourinho said:
“We know Torres’s game. When we see Torres with his back to goal surrounded by two or three opponents, we know that he is not going to produce a piece of magic. But this is Torres. We want the team not to learn how to play with him, but to improve how to play with him.
“We won’t re-model his game, it is impossible to re-model his game. But we want to adapt the team and teach the team how to use his best qualities, because his game is his game.
“He is not a kid any more, he is at an age where it is difficult to change his play. He is what he is and he is very good with the qualities that he has got. So we need to learn and support his game.
“I feel he is highly motivated, he works very hard. I think some of the work we do with the team in terms of attack suits his qualities.
“So let’s see what happens. We are here to support him.”
I’m still not convinced that Manchester United will sell Rooney so it’s likely that Torres will start the season as our first-choice striker with Romelu Lukaku competing for his spot. There’s a significant number of fans calling for Lukaku to be our main centre forward but I don’t think Mourinho will be throwing him in at the deep end and he’ll make him earn his place.
Torres has only managed 34 goals in 131 goals for Chelsea with last season’s total of 22 being his best in a blue shirt so far. He hasn’t lived up to expectations, a number of managers have struggled to help him reignite his spark and the club has some of the best creative talent around, so some of the excuses made on his behalf just don’t hold any water.
He’s a player that owes the club and the fans for their patience. Can Mourinho help him repay the debt?
Source: Daily Mail
