With the dawn of the Benitez era at Stamford Bridge, the much anticipated answer to the question “Will Fernando Torres find his magical touch once again?” was expected to be answered.
Has Fernando Torres rediscovered himself?
The pieces of the puzzle that lasted for almost two season has now started to fall in place as the once second runner up to the World Footballer of the year has now put on his shooting boots.
Torres who had scored four Premier League goals before Benitez was appointed could only manage a total of six goals including the four. He scored once in the Champions League tie against Shakthar, a lucky goal and once in the Community Shield Match against City.
Torres failed to score in the first three matches which Benitez was in charge and Chelsea lost one of them. The Spaniard then scored a brace against Danish side Norjesseland in the final Champions League match scored another brace three days later against Sunderland to end his eight match streak without a goal.
The goal also meant that Benitez got his first win as Chelsea manager. Torres scored his first from an Eden Hazard cross after booting the ball into the net. A brilliant first touch finish to be fair. He then decided to take a penalty for Chelsea after Ramires was fouled. Torres who is not an usual penalty taker converted from the spot. He showed great guts to step up and take it when David Luiz had already converted once earlier this week and was already on the ball. Torres was never a penalty taker for Liverpool, Spain or Chelsea. In fact he wasn’t even given a penalty to take in the Champions League final which disturbed him a lot.
Torres was then all over the Sunderland players. He was unlucky to miss out on a hat-trick. He was denied early in the match by an advancing goal keeper. He assisted Mata for the third Chelsea goal.
Torres who found it difficult to score earlier took a swing with his weaker left foot and connected really well. The ball hit the post and fell into Mata’s path who had the easiest of finishes.
If Torres can find his form back, then other clubs have a huge threat to deal with, because the Torres under Benitez at Liverpool was one of the most feared strikers in the World.
With the Premier League now shaping up well and the Manchester Derby coming up Chelsea still have a good chance to secure the title and forget their Champions League woes.
Will we ever see those magical finishes from Fernando Torres once again? Will we see him in the form that made him the best at what he did?
Only time will tell. After all it is sad to see one of the most gifted players of the decade rot.
Tags: Champions League, Chelsea, EPL, Fernando Torres, Football, Manchester derby, Premier League, Stamford Bridge
