Weight on his shoulders: Will Torres come good for Chelsea before it is too late for his manager?So it has been ten games now, and if you hadn’t already realised it, Fernando Torres still hasn’t scored for Chelsea.
The Spaniard cannot be blamed for all of The Blues’ problems in the last two games. Judging by their performances a sniff at the league with a win at Stoke and later a one-and-only chance of silverware this year at home to Manchester United are still not enough motivation.
But it is the £50million man that everyone is talking about, as he has not nearly managed a shot on target since his move to the capital. Torres’ success in these remaining games, in particular at Old Trafford – if Carlo Ancelotti chooses to play him, will not just define his price tag, but definitely Chelsea’s season and possibly his manager’s future.
After the mid-winter disaster, which saw one win in seven games, the Premier League title was always going to be slightly out of reach, not to mention exits from the League Cup and FA Cup, and the former Liverpool man had not even joined at the point. But when Abramovich put his hand in his pocket for the deadline day move to smash the British transfer record, he was pretty much saying to Carlo: “Here are your tools to succeed, now win me something.”
A good workman should never blame his tools, but it is not as if Ancelotti hasn’t given Torres a run-out, in fact he played 90 minutes on Wednesday when the more effective striker, Drogba, was substituted. Ancelotti shouldn’t have to show Torres how to score goals, his record shows he can do that already – although apparently not in a blue shirt.
Torres’ influence could have more impact next year, when he comes into a Chelsea team with everything to play for once again, but that could be too late for Ancelotti. If Chelsea win nothing, he could go and if he doesn’t make the most of a £50million striker he could go. At the moment, the two do not necessarily go hand in hand.
Which is why tomorrow’s home clash against Wigan is pivotal – not for Chelsea’s chances at the title – that’s gone, possibly for securing a Champions League spot, but without doubt for Torres. In Chelsea’s last two games against the league’s bottom side, the Blues have managed 14 goals without reply, and last season’s home fixture won them the league with an 8-0 victory.
If Torres can’t score against this lot with his home fans cheering him on, a lot will wonder when exactly he will score.
Blue romanticists will say twice at Old Trafford on Tuesday night, which will instantly banish the ghost of the last ten games, get Abramovich and Chelsea fans smiling again and maybe keep Carlo in his job.
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