Terry bullish Torres will end goal drought soon
Published 23:01 07/04/11 By John Cross
Fernando Torres' embarrassment is getting worse with each game — and it appears the weight of expectation on the Spaniard’s shoulders is becoming a burden.
He has gone an amazing 618 minutes without a goal, a drought which does not look like ending any time soon.
That made it all the more baffling that Carlo Ancelotti took off Didier Drogba rather than the £50million striker against Manchester United.
It is yet another episode in the crazy soap opera at Stamford Bridge which threatens to undermine Chelsea’s last remaining hope of silverware.
But Blues captain John Terry insists Torres will come good – once that first goal goes in.
“With any other goalkeeper, apart from Edwin Van der Sar, his header goes in and that could be his first one,” said Terry.
“But Nando’s full of confidence, the players are fully behind him and — believe me — you see glimpses in training that when that first one comes, they will just keep coming and coming.
“I think we forget as well he’s picked up a couple of injuries. But it’s just a case of getting that first goal, getting that off your shoulders, and then you can move on.
“It must be hard as well that people carry on talking about it. It must be a big weight to carry as well as the fee that he came for.
“But he knows he’s good enough to play, the players certainly know he’s good enough, and he’s got our full support. His confidence is as high as anybody. He brings an awful lot in as well – his link-up play as well.
“Maybe we need to get a few more crosses in the box. So it’s not only him. We need to look at the collective side of things.”
Terry also insists that Torres has settled into the group and, while Drogba’s disappointment at being substituted was obvious, there is no animosity between the pair.
“Nando’s a really nice lad. He’s fairly quiet, but he gets involved with everybody, which is nice to see,” said Terry. “So everyone’s taken to him.
“There’s big competition up front and with guys like Didier and Nico [Anelka] a big rivalry. But, at the same time, they get on brilliantly on and off the field.
“And I think everyone wants to help him [Torres] settle in and get that first goal.”
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