Rafael Benítez has admitted Fernando Torres may never recapture the form that marked him out as one of the world's best forwards while at Liverpool, but Chelsea's interim manager believes a fitness programme and training drills geared specifically towards the Spanish striker's needs can help improve the 28-year-old's fortunes at Stamford Bridge.
Torres thrived under his compatriot during three seasons together on Merseyside but having suffered from knee problems towards the end of his time at Anfield, has struggled with Chelsea since his British record £50m transfer in January 2011. Carlo Ancelotti, André Villas-Boas and Roberto Di Matteo have failed to rejuvenate the forward, whose bright start to this season has petered out, with only one goal since the first week in October. Benítez watched from afar as the striker toiled to score 19 goals in 87 appearances since moving to London but has now worked with him firsthand for five days, with a plan in place to improve Torres physically and mentally.
"He's not exactly the same player now because he was at maximum level at that time [at Liverpool]," said Benítez while preparing for Wednesday's visit of Fulham. "But I think he can come back. How close? I don't know. It depends on the rest of the team. I'm sure he can improve – but the team has to help him. The first thing is to give him some confidence, and instructions as to how he can do things in a different way, and improve him a little bit physically.
"Each situation – each team – is different and the way you train, or the players you have, might change your approach. You maybe need something specific for each player. Fernando needs some exercises that we will try to introduce for him, but we will do the same for Oscar, the same for Ashley Cole and for [Frank] Lampard.
"You can work on little things with every player. If we improve some players physically maybe they will come back to the strength they had. Fernando had real pace. It's not because he's getting older or injuries. He has to train in a way that suits him. We will try to find this way. We will also work on the movement he needs to do, and that will take some time.
"We worked with him and Oscar in training to try and find this understanding. It's a question of time, but we know we have to change the movements he's doing out on the pitch. He also has to work in the gym on strength. Maybe he needs to do that again."
Villas-Boas had recruited Iván Ortega, a sports therapist who spent two years working with Torres at Liverpool and who continues to attend to members of the Chelsea first-team squad. The coach Xavi Valero, who accompanied Benítez to Stamford Bridge last week, has also worked one-on-one with the striker in the past, with the need to restore Torres's confidence clear, particularly given the lack of striking options at the club. Daniel Sturridge, the only other recognised forward in the first-team squad, will again miss out against Fulham with a hamstring strain. Chelsea have yet to decide whether to recall Romelu Lukaku from his loan spell at West Bromwich Albion in January.
The focus now is to find a system of play that will suit Torres, retain the attacking trio of Eden Hazard, Oscar and Juan Mata, and also implement solidity across the defence, with Benítez considering replacing Mikel John Obi with Oriol Romeu on Wednesday evening. "We have to create more chances for Fernando," said Benítez. "If, afterwards, he's not scoring I will analyse why and we will continue, but we are trying to improve every single player."
Benítez has immersed himself eagerly in his new role, his first for almost two years since leaving Internazionale, despite the hostile reception afforded him by the club's fans – antipathy that is expected to be maintained on Wednesday night – and attended the Chelsea Under-21s' victory over Fulham at Cobham on Monday, sitting alongside the owner, Roman Abramovich, the sporting director, Michael Emenalo, and the captain, John Terry.
"I have spent some time with Roman and we have not been talking about recreating the 'Barcelona' style," said Benítez. "He just wants to see his team playing well. He knows we don't have Messi, Xavi and Iniesta here, players who have been working together for years. We have different players. I am looking to find a balance in our style. We have players with talent in attack and have to give them the ball to create things, which means we also need to be organised at the back. Roman is realistic. He sees how we work and he knows it'll take some time to fix everything, but he knows we can do it.
"I don't know how the fans will be at the Fulham game. But I can say that since coming here I've worked really hard, coming in at 8.30am and leaving at 8.30 at night, doing my job, talking to players and staff and trying to be ready for the game. I'm being professional and I can't do anything else. I can understand how the fans feel. I know the rivalry was there [with Liverpool]. I know their feelings. But I'm here for the right reasons. The only way to change things is by winning games."
Chelsea (4-2-3-1; probable): Cech; Azpilicueta, Ivanovic, David Luiz, Cole; Ramires, Romeu; Mata, Oscar, Hazard; Torres.
Fulham (4-5-1; probable): Schwarzer; Riether, Hughes, Senderos, Riise; Duff, Baird, Sidwell, Karagounis, Frei; Berbatov.
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