Is Rafael Benitez the right man to galvanise Fernado Torres ?
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.One of the reasons Rafael Benitez appeals to Roman Abramovich is that the former Liverpool manager knows the secret of how to make Fernado Torres play to his potential.
Benitez brought Torres to Liverpool from Atletico Madrid in the summer of 2007, coaxing 72 goals in 116 games out of the then-prolific striker during the three seasons their careers overlapped. His record since joining Chelsea pales in comparison – 19 goals in 86 appearances in all competitions.
Torres was often labelled the ‘complete striker’ whilst at Liverpool, capable of long-range goals, jinking runs, outpacing defenders and poachers’ finishes, as well as proving himself a force in the air. Upon moving to Chelsea, the Spaniard struggled for form in Carlo Ancelotti’s system and was often overshadowed by Didier Drogba. A series of missed chances and anonymous displays further dented his confidence and lead to his nickname as the ‘£50 million bench-warmer’.
Could a reuniting of the two Spaniards be the catalyst to turn around Torres’ and Chelsea’s fortunes?
Benitez has often spoken highly of the striker, claiming a £70m deal for Torres was mooted the previous year. Benitez also said that the striker: "has lost confidence at Chelsea but will return to his best."
The feeling between the two seems to be mutual, as Torres said of Benitez: “He’s not just another manager. He created a team and put his faith in the players that owe him a lot,” after claiming that he’d quit if Benitez was sacked.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments