Liverpool legend John Aldridge does not believe in Chelsea striker http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Fernando-Torres-c13707’ revival
John Aldridge, the former Liverpool and http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Republic-of-Ireland-c2987 striker, said he did not think former Reds forward Fernando Torres would be able to adjust at Chelsea. The Spaniard transferred to Stamford Bridge in the last January transfer window from Liverpool for a record breaking fee of £50 million but has failed to make an impact for the London side.
Even after the 27-year-old failed to impress in the latter half of last season, the Blues management is willing to give him another chance. After sacking Italian manager Carlo Ancelotti, the Blues have appointed former http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/FC-Porto-c39186 boss Andre Villas-Boas as the new Chelsea manager. The 33-year-old manager has brought with him his own management team.
Their sole purpose it seems is to somehow get Torres back to his goal-scoring form, which according to Aldridge would be impossible. According to him, no amount of support could get the striker back in form. He revealed he had been following the http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Spain-c3011 international and had noticed that the striker seemed to be past his prime while still at Anfield.
The Portuguese manager looks to be heading towards building a team that compliments Torres, which explains the interest in Tottenham Hotspur midfielder http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Luka-Modric-c22857. Even though Tottenham manager Harry Redknapp has made it clear he doesn’t wish to sell the Croatian midfielder, the Blues are not taking no for an answer.
The most likely reason for the continued interest in the 25-year-old Spurs midfielder is the belief that he is the key to unlock Torres’ goals. Aldridge did not think all the Blues’ effort would help the former Liverpool striker return to top form, the same form he had been in when he had first arrived at Anfield from Atletico Madrid.
Aldridge said in an interview:
“Everyone seems to be saying he’ll be back to his best next season but I can’t see it.
I don’t think Torres can get back to what he was at Liverpool two seasons ago. He’s lost a yard of pace.
He’ll score goals of course – but not one in every 1.5 games as he did when he first arrived at http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Liverpool-c39809 and was tremendous.
http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Chelsea-c38786 fans shouldn’t expect him to be like he used to be. It’s not going to happen.”
Torres made 46 appearances and scored an impressive 33 goals in the 2007-2008 season, after signing with the Reds from the La Liga outfit for a fee of an estimated £20 million. The following season he scored 17 goals in 38 appearances in all competitions, with his overall form deteriorating in the subsequent seasons.
In the 2009-2010 season, Torres signed a contract extension with Liverpool and found the back of the net 22 times in 32 appearances despite being sidelined for the latter half of the season due to injury. With the departure of manager Rafa Benitez, Torres was linked with a move away but eventually ended up staying under Roy Hodgson.
It would prove to be his most unsuccessful season at Anfield, with Torres making just 26 appearances in all competitions in the beginning of the season and scoring 9 goals. At Chelsea, he found the back of the net just once in 18 appearances in both the English Premier League and the UEFA Champions League, making him one of the most expensive flops at the London club.
Aldridge, who played for Liverpool from 1987–1989, revealed he did not think Torres would improve any time soon, despite all the effort by the Blues. The Liverpool legend continued:
“I look back now and it was a relief Torres went. He wasn’t interested.
He hasn’t played well for a long time now.”
Disclaimer: Views expressed here are the writer’s own and in no way represent bettor.com’s official editorial policy
Tags: