PlayBeautiful

Fernando Torres: The Fate of Chelsea's #9

Chelsea played the last game of their post-season tour in the USA. One interesting development of this particular match was that Fernando Torres was given the captain’s armband for the entire match. It made me wonder if this was some sort of subliminal message regarding Torres’ future at Chelsea. Should Torres continue building his career at Stamford Bridge or find greener pastures elsewhere? There are two sides to this equation, so here’s a breakdown of whether Fernando Torres should stay or go.

If He Stays…
This season El Niño has seen his better days in a Blue shirt. He delivered a total of 23 goals and 7 assists in the 2012/13 campaign. Nine of those goals in European competitions shows that he’s been picking up his form compared to what it used to be in the past couple of seasons. Rafa Benítez has been working close with Torres to rebuild and regain this form. In an interview with Grant Wahl for Sports Illustrated, Benítez himself said,

“[Torres is] improving his fitness. He has been working so hard in the gym, and his pace is nearly there. He's very strong. So he can beat defenders running, and now it's just confidence.” 

If Torres continues this steady progression in performance, we can see him build his strength as well as boost his confidence. You can’t deny the fact that he’s made some crucial goals during the season. When he’s hot right now, Chelsea could use it to their full advantage. Keeping him for one more year could be the test to ensure if Fernando has indeed found his footing. The further faith in Torres could see Roman Abramovich bearing the fruits of his investment as well as his belief in the price tag. After the departure of the legendary Didier Drogba, Torres was given a golden opportunity to prove himself. The introduction of key players in attack such as Juan Mata, Eden Hazard, and Oscar has transitioned the side into playing a type of fluid, attractive football. This meant Torres had to adapt to Chelsea’s creative style. Torres has reiterated to UEFA.com,

“Every day you learn new things and you change a little bit. You are the kind of player that you are all your life, but I think the key is to adapt to a new system, new players, a new style of football, and that takes some time. In my case maybe more than it should, but after a couple of seasons here I can see how different the team is compared to when I arrived, with different players. We have to be clever and focused in the adaptation of the new ideas of the team, the manager, the kind of football we're playing now. I think this is the main difference. I think my mind is open, more open than before, and I can see what I have to do to improve.” 

If he continues to bolster his work-rate and push his commitment, there’s no reason he can’t score at least 20 goals in conjunction with the attacking midfield. The chemistry can only get better from here. When José Mourinho arrives, Torres knows he’ll have to prove himself on all fronts. This should be enough motivation to display he’s a team player since Mourinho doesn’t like slackers. Moreover, football has become a business in the modern age. A sad but true reality. In a way, Torres is a brand for Chelsea. His shirts are top-sellers worldwide, which means his success can only help the club maintain its global image.



If He Leaves…
Chelsea and Torres have spent three years in each other’s company. Although one could argue Fernando Torres has scored 20+ goals, this should be the case when Chelsea have played a total of 69 games. Being the primary choice in leading the line, there should be no reason why Torres can’t score that many goals. Chelsea have played more matches than any other European side this season. In the league, Torres has only managed 8 goals for the team. Although he has improved his work-rate, a good work-rate doesn’t always translate into goals. It’s no secret Torres doesn’t have the killer instinct he once had. He doesn’t come off as a natural poacher in the box, which is a key element Chelsea could use in a striker. Torres has shown inconsistencies as a #9 with his lack of clinical finishing. It could be a risk to keep him beyond another season. Not only that, it could prove costly for the club to remain optimistic in the process of Torres rediscovering his top form. Torres has very high wages and offloading him could help the club cut their losses. This could be the time to sell him since Chelsea can capitalize on his present form. Those funds could be used to bring in another alternative. Roman could outright sell or use him in a cash + trade deal. Torres would most likely be sold outside of England, which would be the preference of the majority of Chelsea supporters. This would give the new manager a chance to sign another top name for the job. Some candidates linked to Chelsea are Edinson Cavani, Mario Gómez, Burak Yılmaz, and Robert Lewandowski. Although these players are unproven in the Premier League, they have the firepower and confidence to be a great addition to Chelsea. If the club decides to retain Fernando’s services, he may be reduced to starting on the bench or used as a squad player. Keeping him would mean he adds depth, but doesn’t necessarily mean he’ll have an important role. It would be in Chelsea‘s best interest to find a player who is of a certain standard. The standard should always be world-class instead of mediocre. It would make more sense for Chelsea to find a player who already highlights their philosophy. In other words, the player should fit the club’s needs instead of the club trying to fit the player’s needs.

Like the two sides of any coin, every situation presents itself with pros and cons. The decision to keep Torres or to sell him is a complex one. According to The Telegraph, Torres has been reinvigorated with a “sense of importance” at Chelsea. He’s been showing his goal-scoring prowess, but at the same time has not reached the level he is very eager to find with the Blues. His future may be out of his hands, but he hasn’t let the optimism slip through his fingers. It is Fernando Torres’ words that echo, “the best goal is yet to come.” 

Written by: Goral Patel

Follow me on Twitter: @goralpatel