Pressure mounts on Torres

SOCCER NEWS:ANDRE VILLAS-BOAS has warned Fernando Torres that should his lack of goals "compromise" the Chelsea team he is likely to lose his place in the starting XI.

The €57 million striker has scored once in 21 club appearances since moving from Liverpool in January and, asked about the Spaniard’s lack of goals, Villas-Boas said: “It can never compromise the objectives of the team and the things you want to achieve. It’s not just about scoring goals, it’s about creating opportunities and he’s been doing that. The moment when it compromises the running of the team I think it has to come to an end.”

The manager retains faith in the Spaniard and says he is no different from the player who scored 81 times in 142 games for Liverpool. Yet Torres did not make the bench for Spain’s midweek Euro 2012 qualifier against Liechtenstein and, with Didier Drogba likely to be fit for the visit to Manchester United on Sunday week, the 27-year-old may be running out of chances to prove himself.

Daniel Sturridge is available after a three-match suspension, offering further competition. “You don’t lose your talent because you went 21 games just scoring one goal,” Villas-Boas said. “The talent is there. The question is regaining that confidence – that comes with training and time and finding the back of the net. One of our main focuses is getting the best out of the players, to free themselves and exploit their talent. You just have to persist.”

Villas-Boas, though, insists Torres has not lost any of his speed or other abilities. “I don’t think he’s lost pace. I don’t think it’s even a question – it’s related to the space that you find, the timing of the run and the opponents,” he said.

Of Sturridge the Chelsea manager said: “He is very competitive in training. You saw the part he could play in pre-season (when he scored against Ajax and Rangers) and at Bolton (Wanderers, when on loan last season). It’s a plus that he is (available) for selection and he can add to the team as well.”

Frank Lampard was dropped for England’s Euro 2012 qualifier against Bulgaria last Friday before Fabio Capello reinstated him for Tuesday’s victory over Wales at Wembley. Villas-Boas believes the 33-year-old midfielder can still offer box-to-box performances, but said he would have no problem dropping him, Torres, or any other player.

“He (Lampard) is extremely fit. As a player he feels well and can compete with the others and it’s up to him. And you see with this kind of competition he has at Chelsea he is selected three games straightaway in the Premier League so that means for us at moment he’s up at the top,” he said.

Asked if there would be any problem dropping him, Villas-Boas said: “No.”

Villas-Boas also appeared to rule out another bid for Tottenham Hotspur’s Croatian midfielder Luka Modric when the transfer window re-opens in January. Chelsea made at least three attempts to lure Modric to Stamford Bridge in the summer window, but even a reported bid of €45 million on the final day of trading last week failed to persuade Spurs chairman Daniel Levy to sell their creative playmaker.

Asked if Chelsea would renew their chase in the New Year, Villas-Boas said: “No, I don’t think so. The market is closed now and I won’t speculate on what happens in January.”

Elsewhere, David de Gea accepts that it is normal that he should be criticised in the press for his shaky start as Manchester United’s new goalkeeper but is confident in his ability to be a key member of Alex Ferguson’s team. The Spanish keeper was deemed to be at fault for both Manchester City’s goals in the Community Shield and was also criticised for the one conceded against West Bromwich Albion in the Premier League. Eyebrows were also raised when he let Theo Walcott’s effort through his legs in the 8-2 hammering of Arsenal.

However, he is unfazed by the criticism that has come his way. “No, it seems normal to me,” he told AS. “When you do things wrong, even though it’s (just) a couple of mistakes, the press has every right to criticise you. Especially when you’re a goalkeeper, who is always under the spotlight. What happened is something normal and no big deal. Now it’s in my hands to change those early negative criticisms into praise.”

De Gea believes he can turn things round by “improving in every training session and in every match, but above all keeping intact my confidence in my abilities and in what I can bring to the team. I’m surrounded by very good people and that means that we can do big things this year. We have to have faith and belief that we can do it. Only that way will I continue to grow as a goalkeeper and having the necessary confidence to become a key player.”

Off the pitch the transition for the 20-year-old who joined from Atletico Madrid for €21 million in the summer has been smooth. He says his English is coming along and he describes his new club as “incredible”.

“The club, the supporters, the facilities, the atmosphere, it’s all out of this world. All my team-mates are very open, there’s a very good atmosphere, and that makes it much easier to integrate. I’m very happy because from the first day I’ve felt like just one more within the group.”

Guardian Service