AVB: No Torr-ture caused by Drogba

Posted Friday, January 20, 2012 by The Sun

ANDRE VILLAS-BOAS insists Fernando Torres does not have a mental problem dealing with Didier Drogba.

Former Chelsea boss Carlo Ancelotti this week claimed that £50million flop Torres has been eaten alive by Drogba's daunting presence.

And he reckons the only way to get the best out of the goal-shy Spaniard is to SELL his strike rival.

But new Blues chief Villas-Boas says Ancelotti has got it all wrong and is adamant Britain's costliest footballer is not living in Drogba's giant shadow.

AVB said: "I respect Carlo's opinion but, for me, it is not the case.

"It has not even crossed my mind to sell Didier in this transfer window. I still rely on him for what he represents as a player and icon.

"We are speaking about two of the best players in the world and it would be unfair to conclude that Didier is inflicting his personality on Fernando. If that was the case it would be a mental weakness or a mental block.

"That is not the situation here.

"In a club our size you always have to compete against the best.

"It's the same with Barcelona and Real Madrid. The people you compete with are as good or better than you and you have to show you should be in the starting XI."

In 11 days it will be a year since Ancelotti broke the British transfer record to sign Torres from Liverpool.

Since then the £180,000-a-week striker has scored five goals and his recent return to form has coincided with Drogba's trip to the African Nations Cup with the Ivory Coast.

Villas-Boas added: "Fernando is in great form and looking sharp.

"At the start of the season, Didier delivered and was in the team. Now we're back with Fernando and his movement and ability.

"He's doing tremendously well for the team and we've seen him create danger.

"Fernando has a hunger for goals and wants to be in the box. As long as he's working for the team I don't care how the statistics work.

"Manchester City have Edin Dzeko, who has scored plenty of goals, but he's not used all the time because there is a dynamic for them to have a player like Sergio Aguero."

It is now three months since Torres scored for Chelsea but he will lead the attack in tomorrow's must-win trip to Norwich.

AVB said: "I don't care what happens at Arsenal v United or City v Spurs on Sunday if we do not do our own job first.

"There is no point thinking about our title aspirations until we get our consistency right."