Transfer News: Chelsea striker Fernando Torres still wanted by Jose Mourinho
Last Updated: 24/08/14 11:15am
Jose Mourinho has insisted he wants Fernando Torres to stay at Chelsea after the striker was left out of the squad for their 2-0 win over Leicester City.
Torres was an unused substitute in Chelsea’s 3-1 win at Burnley in their opening game of the season, but was not even on the bench for Saturday’s success over Leicester at Stamford Bridge.
The Spain international, who has scored 46 goals in 172 appearances for Chelsea since his move from Liverpool in January 2011, has regularly been linked with a move away.
Italian trio AC Milan, Juventus and Roma have all been linked with summer approaches for the 30-year-old, but Mourinho does not want to let Torres go.
He will play and score goals, to be very useful for us, he is a fantastic guy, a fantastic professional, so there is no problem.
Jose Mourinho
“I decided to keep the same team and I had a bench with balance; one central defender, one full-back, one defensive midfield player, one attacking midfield player, one winger and one striker,” said Mourinho, explaining why Torres was not involved against Leicester.
“Sometimes I can have two strikers on the bench, sometimes I can’t. I played Drogba, Ramires and Willian so the decision, for me, looked the correct one.
“At this moment we are playing one match a week but that’s over next week, then we have Capital One Cup, Champions League and Premier League matches all together.
“We will have three matches every week in September, October, November and December so it will be easier for all of them because they will all be playing.
"I want three strikers in the team. I cannot do a season without three strikers. I want him (to stay).
"He will play and score goals, to be very useful for us, he is a fantastic guy, a fantastic professional, so there is no problem."