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AVB warns Torres over poor form
Chelsea manager Andre Villas-Boas has told misfiring striker Fernando Torres to buck up as he will not compromise the team for the Spaniard.
Torres has received much criticism after scoring only one goal in 21 appearances for the Blues since arriving in January for £50 million. Villas-Boas started the 27-year-old in Chelsea's three Premier League matches but he is still waiting to see Torres' first competitive goal since he took over.
This does not bode well for Torres, who was dropped from the Spain squad that beat Liechtenstein 6-0 on Tuesday due to his poor club form.
Villas-Boas believes that Torres will return to form after regaining confidence, though the former Porto manager will not compromise Chelsea's title challenge for the sake of the striker.
He told the Daily Mirror: "He didn't lose his talent talent because he's played 21 games and only scored one goal. The talent is there and the question is regaining confidence.
"That comes from training and from time and finding the back of the net, so we have to persist. "But it can't compromise the team. The moment it compromises the team it has to come to an end."
"I don't make a first choice team, just the choice for the next game. "Fernando started the first three games and Didier came off the bench. We make choices regarding what we see. I have no problem dropping players."
Torres will have two more matches to repay his boss' faith in him as Didier Drogba recovers from his concussion injury after being knocked out by Norwich goalkeeper John Ruddy.
"Didier has to be authorised to make a full return to training," said the Blues boss. "The first days after the incident he was in tremendous pain and while he's had complete support since we have to make sure he's fully recovered before he comes back to training because they are the right requirements neurologically.
"We will push it to limit to get him available for Manchester United, although he will miss Sunderland and probably Bayer Leverkusen."
Torres will lead Chelsea's frontline out against Sunderland on Saturday at the Stadium of Light. (which he failed to score again
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Monday 12th September 2011
Double trouble for misfiring Torres
Chelsea manager Andre Villas-Boas could axe Fernando Torres from Tuesday's UEFA Champions League tie with Bayer Leverkusen and Sunday's trip to Manchester United.
According to the Sun, AVB will keep faith with striker Daniel Sturridge for both crunch clashes after the youngster scored a sublime back-heeled goal in the Blues' 2-1 win over Sunderland at the weekend.
Villas-Boas said: "We had a lot of teams calling Daniel to take him on loan during the transfer window but it was never going to happen.
"The technical staff and I all had the feeling we should bring him in. We have an outstanding player." Torres was relegated to the bench at the Stadium of Light after failing to find the net in the first three games of the season. The Sun claims there may be no recall for Torres this week.
"It is a very important week ahead for us and we really need to focus now on the next game which is of the utmost importance," Villas-Boas said.
"Everybody wants to start well in the Champions League with three points - especially in a home game - and even more so because it comes before Manchester United.
"It is a vital week for us but we have a very good squad in all sectors and we will have to rest a few of the players in order to be able to respond.
"The Champions League requires a certain level, but at least we have a good four days before the Manchester United game."
The 27-year-old came on as a 74th-minute sub for the Blues at the weekend and has only managed one goal since his record-breaking £50million move to Stamford Bridge in January.
