The £50 million flop?

The signing of Fernando Torres for £50 million was not seen as a gamble for Chelsea, they felt it was a good price for a proven goal scorer that would transform their season around and help them to challenge for Premier League and Champions League honours. However, it hasn’t quite gone according to plan.

In 5 starts for Chelsea so far Torres has managed 10 shots on goal and only 1 on target. This surely isn’t what Chelsea expected from a £50 million striker is it? But it isn’t something new with Torres, as everybody has seen he hasn’t been in top form for about a year, largely due to injuries. He had a decent season at Liverpool last season before having a dreadful World Cup with Spain and his form has never looked like improving since.

So what prompted Chelsea to pay so much money on a striker seriously short on form and fitness? It has been mentioned in some sections of the media that Torres was a signing made by owner Roman Abramovich and he is the signing that the Chelsea owner has been chasing for years. So when Torres scored twice for Liverpool against Chelsea in November in a 2-0 win for the Reds, the Russian billionaire knew exactly who he wanted.

Chelsea boss Carlo Ancelotti has been given the task of trying to integrate Torres into his side and to find the right formation to suit the Spaniard. Despite Chelsea’s results and form improving, Torres doesn’t look good at all and is hugely short on confidence. He has started games against former club Liverpool, Fulham, Blackpool, FC Copenhagen and Manchester City so far and really struggled to impose himself into any of those games.

Brazilian signing David Luiz however, has been an instant success at Chelsea and made himself a real favourite with the fans with two goals, against Man United and Man City, and a number of top class displays in defence alongside skipper John Terry. He has overshadowed Torres, which puts more pressure on the striker to find the back of the net as soon as possible, and the Champions League would be the perfect stage in which to do it.

Chelsea have been drawn against Manchester United in the quarter-finals of the UEFA Champions League and this tie is an ideal moment for Torres to really prove his worth to the Chelsea faithful and prove he was worth the large sum of money. Knocking Manchester United out would also briefly make him liked in Liverpool.

The Chelsea fans have been very patient with Torres and have been very supportive of the striker and are desperate to see him score, this was illustrated by booing manager Carlo Ancelotti’s decision to substitute him in the recent win over Man City. But when will their patience run thin? 

By Tariq Saleh

Twitter – @TariqSaleh21