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Yossi: My pal Torres has been badly managed
DOWN IN THE DUMPS ... Fernando Torres has been out of sorts since joining Chelsea
Last Updated: 16th February 2013
YOSSI BENAYOUN fears Fernando Torres’ confidence is shot to pieces because of the way Chelsea have managed their £50million asset.
Benayoun and Torres have been close friends since their time under Rafa Benitez at Liverpool.
And the Israeli international is saddened at the Spanish striker’s incredible fall from grace following his move to Stamford Bridge two years ago.
Benayoun, back with the Blues after an injury-hit loan spell at West Ham, said: “It has been a hard time for Fernando. When he came to Chelsea he was on the bench, on the pitch and then on the bench again.
“So he didn’t get the confidence he needed when he arrived. My opinion is that, from the beginning, the situation with him was badly managed.”
Torres has played under a succession of Blues bosses — Carlo Ancelotti, Andre Villas-Boas and Roberto di Matteo — before being re-united with Benitez in November this season.
And Benayoun added: “Fernando was the top striker at Liverpool, an unbelievable player. You gave him the ball and you knew he would score.
“But he had a bad time in the beginning at Chelsea because Drogba was here and there was competition.
“And with that £50m fee over his head — that’s not easy for any player.
“This is the first season that the club has given him the 100 per cent confidence that he needs to be the number one again.”
OLD PALS ... Yossi Benayoun and Fernando Torres in 2011
Torres, 27, responded to Benitez’s arrival as interim boss with a burst of seven goals in six games in December.
But he has scored just once in 13 appearances since Christmas — against League One Brentford in the FA Cup — and was awful during Thursday’s Europa League clash with Sparta Prague.
Yet Benitez continues to defend his man, saying: “Everybody expects a striker just to score goals but Fernando is also doing a great job for the team. His work-rate is really good and we have to create more opportunities and the strikers will score more goals.”
Torres is likely to be rested in favour of Demba Ba for tomorrow’s replay with the Bees.
Benitez is ready to make up to six changes to his team with John Terry, Ashley Cole, David Luiz, Demba Ba, Victor Moses and John Obi Mikel set to start.
That will mean a rest for Frank Lampard, 34, who has played every minute of Chelsea’s last nine games.
He said: “I get into a flow when I play regularly and I’ve been really pleased with my form. But it doesn’t mean I have to play every game.
“Now we’re in the Europa League it means we have to get our minds around playing every Thursday and Sunday but it’s not difficult to get up for that.”
BRENTFORD striker Clayton Donaldson can't feel sorry for well-paid Spaniard ahead of Chelsea cup clash
Read more: http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/sport/football/4797731/Fernando-Torres-has-been-badly-managed-by-Chelsea-says-Yossi-Benayoun.html#ixzz2L4PfqXtB
