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Rafael Benitez says Fernando Torres not at Liverpool peak

Last updated on .From the section Footballcomments434

Fernando Torres

Rafael Benitez admits Chelsea's Fernando Torres has not recaptured the form he showed when at Liverpool.

The Blues interim manager says Torres' performances can improve but is unsure how close to that level he can get.

Torres, 28, scored 81 goals in 142 appearances for Liverpool after being signed by Benitez in 2007, but has only got 19 since his 2011 move to Chelsea.

Torres 'can improve with help'

"It [Torres' form] is not the same now as when he was at his maximum but I think he can come back," Benitez said.

"How close? I don't know. It also depends on the rest of the team. I think he can improve but the team has to help him."

Chelsea are without a win in five league games ahead of Wednesday's meeting with local rivals Fulham.

Former Liverpool boss Benitez, who takes charge of his second Chelsea game since replacing Roberto Di Matteo last week, believes some added physicality will help Torres.

"The first thing is to give him some confidence; give him instructions of what he can do in a different way to improve him and the rest of the team a little bit physically," said Benitez.

Chelsea have managed just one clean sheet in their last 11 outings which came in Sunday's 0-0 draw with Manchester City and Benitez believes that tightening up the defence will ease pressure on Torres having to score.

The former Liverpool manager also hinted he may change the shape of the side to help them improve defensively as Chelsea have used just 19 players in the Premier League - fewer than any other team.

"When you have a striker you always think he has to score," said Benitez.

"If you can be stronger in defence, you can regain the ball easier, you have more chances because you have more possession so that is the idea.

"We try to improve them a little bit physically and the shape of the team if we can, then keep the good things that they had."

Benitez will be hoping for his first win on Wednesday as he has a battle on his hands to win over disgruntled supporters who are annoyed the Spaniard was brought in to replace Di Matteo.

The Blues' faithful made their opinions clear by booing Benitez before their draw with City, but the former Liverpool manager remains unperturbed.

"If you have a player that has not got the support of the fans what I will tell him is: 'Stay focused. Try to do your job and concentrate on your football'," he added.

"For me it is the same. I understand how the fans feel at the moment."

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434 comments

  • Comment posted by JackBurton, at 15:29 27 Nov 2012

    Isn't the headline a bit misleading??? I've read the article 4 times and can't see that quote. The closest is:

    "It [Torres' form] is not the same now as when he was at his maximum but I think he can come back," Benitez said.

    So he is saying he was at his maximum/peak at Liverpool (true), but thinks he can come back to his peak again (also true).

    Headline makes it sounds negative....

  • Comment posted by D1679559705200, at 15:58 27 Nov 2012

    23.Jack Burton
    Totally agree, I think the BBC must have recruited a lot of ex News of the World reporters on the cheap. Shoddy journalism( Newsnight !)seems to dominate the BBC sports page, it's the Radio 5 live philosophy.......lets provoke and create a senseless debate from nothing but a figment of someones imagination.!

  • Comment posted by smudger666, at 15:26 27 Nov 2012

    You could argue Benitez peaked at Liverpool too.....

  • Comment posted by User0948514414, at 16:14 27 Nov 2012

    Why are clear xenophobic comments like "fat Spanish waiter" deemed acceptable on the this site? The sports media in Britain are always pointing out discrimination that occurs in other countries but xenophobia seems to be more than acceptable,as I've found out when I've travelled to England for games.But it's not like the British media to be hypocrites is it?

  • Comment posted by tjp, at 15:41 27 Nov 2012

    As a true Chelsea supporter Rafa wouldn't have been my choice but come on you guys, all that really matters is that Chelsea are successful. He is now our manager so support him - can't understand fans doing anthing that might affect the team badly

  • Comment posted by GrandPooBah, at 16:02 27 Nov 2012

    Why don't the chelsea fans protest against RA? He sacked RDM afterall.

  • Comment posted by Duncan, at 16:08 27 Nov 2012

    @60. DCrump14 : Go look up what really happened at Liverpool under Rafa. Net spend was very low. He brought in Sterling, Suso etc. The bank forced LFC to not spend more than they made in the transfer windows (hence Alonso being sold for £34M to fund two players coming in) due to Gillett and Hicks putting large debt against the club. LFC did come 2nd with 86 points, ie Close to winning the title.

  • Comment posted by daz2211, at 15:49 27 Nov 2012

    @davidb just to correct you, Torres cash was spent on Carroll and Suarez, Suarez being the key as you conveniently left him out of your list, the rest were all bought in a different transfer window, so hardly the Torres money :)

  • Comment posted by Bjorntorekvarme-leg-end, at 17:02 27 Nov 2012

    @163 - I agree, in my opinion Benitez's single biggest mistake at Liverpool was disillusioning Xabi with his ill-advised pursuit of Gareth Barry.

    I think at the time Xabi was the bet central midfielder in the country, certainly there were few with his range of passing.

  • Comment posted by User0741614097, at 18:50 27 Nov 2012

    But I think the question on everyone's lips is: what do the Society of Black Lawyers have to say about this?

  • Comment posted by cisninho, at 15:52 27 Nov 2012

    Why doesn´t Roman just appoint himself coach? Torres is another Andriy Shevchenko.

    Liverpool did well moving him on as he had already passed his best (possibly due to those knee injuries).

  • Comment posted by User0942741793, at 17:34 27 Nov 2012

    I knew the Chelsea supporters are total plastics...but they have reached a new low by booing and showing "Rafa Out" signs!!

    If u have the bottle and if u truly support Di Mattio..u should protest against RA tor RB. But as u also know..Chelsea is absolutely nothing without RA's billions! If RA suddenly moves on to a new toy 2mro, u dont have the capability to sustain ur club for a single season..

  • Comment posted by geow93, at 16:20 27 Nov 2012

    Chelsea's problem was that they became so obsessed with buying Torres that they ended up being blind to how he was performing. He wasn't having a great season with us and he's just continued that form at Chelsea for the past couple of seasons.

  • Comment posted by User0043772910, at 16:42 27 Nov 2012

    What seems to be overlooked is that after finishing 2nd to Man U when Torres was at his peak - Benitez took us to 7th the following season and into the Europa League.
    Torres was dire that season and the following half season with Hodgson.

    It was amusing to see him sold for 50m when he had been so poor for so long. What's happened since is no surprise, been a shadow of what we had for 3 years now

  • Comment posted by display_name, at 15:18 27 Nov 2012

    As a football fan, I sincerely hope Rafa can bring Torres back. I mean he really was a fantastic striker, and it's just sad to see him struggling like this.

  • Comment posted by User0049610791, at 18:04 27 Nov 2012

    "Torres peaked at Liverpool" - is still showing where I live on the main football page and that's surely very poor, misleading BBC journalism. Benitez is clearly saying that Torres was "at his peak at Liverpool" as opposed to that headline which suggests a damning indictment upon Torres's ability to ever improve or get his mojo back (and re 227,216,189). We expect better from you, BBC.

  • Comment posted by U14972306, at 18:37 27 Nov 2012

    Chelsea are an embarrassment.

  • Comment posted by User0117218983, at 01:01 28 Nov 2012

    @361
    when people put in "hahaha" when they are trying to insult something it usually means that they are angry or jealous.
    when someone is jealous that means that you have something they want. enjoy

  • Comment posted by D1679559705200, at 15:33 27 Nov 2012

    Torres is now holding the team back. If everything has to be played through him and he doesn't finish as expected then frustration will set in.
    Totally agree with Rafa but Abramovitch has to take the heat at some point.He's an autocrat who thinks money can buy anything ! Well it can't, but he can afford to waste £50,000,000 and has done !

  • Comment posted by User0156458012, at 15:17 27 Nov 2012

    I think its about time we stopped talking about Torres! He will never be the same in Chelsea end of discussion! Why not cover other strikers who are doing well in their clubs

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