You’d think a £50 million striker would want to play every minute of every game and bang in a load of goals, especially if it was Fernando Torres at Chelsea, but it seems Rafael Benitez has Torres under some sort of hoodoo that can make him score goals and not mind missing a game or two.
When Rafael Benitez took over at Stamford Bridge following the sacking of Roberto Di Matteo, there was a lot of talk of this being the spark Torres needed and he was sure to score goals but Benitez was quick to calm that talk.
Whether Benitez knows how to make Torres tick or the striker enjoys playing for the former Liverpool boss, who brought him to England in 2007, there is no doubting Torres has started to turn his fortune around in Chelsea blue.
Despite having endured a run of 8 Premier League games without a goal, the Spaniard has notched up 7 league goals, 14 in all competitions, and is steadily easing the pressure that he has often been under since his record move from Liverpool to Chelsea in 2011.
Torres, a January transfer himself, may have some new strike partners and competition in the squad as the month goes on but interim manager Benitez is sure his only current senior striker won’t mind spending some time on the bench in the second half of the season.
“We are trying to manage the team, so when I can change Fernando I will do it,” Benitez said.
“We will try to manage him and hopefully we can do things properly.
“He wants the team winning games and he understands that is the way so he will accept this.”
Sam Jewell