Torres conundrum

When Ji Sang Park scored United’s second goal on Tuesday night Champions League quarter final restoring their lead. It didn’t only effectively end Chelsea’s hopes in this year’s competition, it ended Chelsea’s season. Sadly for Chelsea I’ve a feeling their problems wont end there. With Torres miss-firing again, Ancelotti has a 50 million pound question that remains unanswered. I think it was universally acknowledged that Didier Drogba should have started against United even without the benefit of hindsight. Torres is clearly low on confidence and no amount of ‘he’s playing for the team’ nonsense from Ancelotti is going to change that. Torres can’t lie to myself, he knows he’s not playing well and needs to start scoring. Carlo seems to be giving Torres more opportunity than there are Fast and Furious movies. Seriously who keep funding these movies? Anyway I digress, it’s been suggested that he maybe under pressure from above to ensure Torres comes good. But I wonder if Abramovich now has the buyer’s remorse, frantically turning his yacht upside down looking for that sale receipt.

The problem that Chelsea and in particular Ancelotti faces is the Drogba / Torres conundrum, can they play together? Are they the new Gerrard and Lampard? Are Katie and Alex the new Ross and Rachel? Never mind.

Torres plays best on the shoulder of the last defender where as Drogba is the archetypal target man. So they’re not completely similar so why has it been so difficult. A clash of egos maybe? Though I wouldn’t agree, all footballers want to play with the best players, providing they are indeed playing of course! Torres’s lack of goals and in turn lack of confidence is at the core. Should he start scoring the problem resolve itself and that must be inevitable. Whether Ancelotti sees this turn around is another question.

I think it’s important for Chelsea to build the side around their key players. In the past Chelsea have successfully played to their strengths. The foundations built on a strong defence, which allows Lampard and co licence to roam and create.

Undeniably neither Drogba nor Torres will be content to warm the bench. Given Chelsea have four excellent centre halves. With the inclusion of an attacking right back of the ilk of Ashley Cole. A simple change of formation could see them back to winning ways.  Playing with three centre backs and two wing backs will allow for two strikers with an attacking midfield element, thus accommodating Chelsea’s key players.  Of course if that doesn’t work then Roman can always go out and buy a couple more super stars, apparently he’s doing alright for himself.