Misfiring Chelsea striker Fernando Torres will be given time to rediscover his form at Stamford Bridge, Andre Villas-Boas has confirmed.
Villas-Boas insists striker will come back to his best
Misfiring Chelsea striker Fernando Torres will be given time to rediscover his form at Stamford Bridge, Andre Villas-Boas has confirmed.
The Blues forward has endured a miserable time in West London following his £50million move from Liverpool in January.
Spain international Torres has scored just five goals for his new employers and the days when he was regarded as one of the most feared forwards in the Premier League seem a distant memory.
But Villas-Boas, who on Thursday rejected reports they could be ready to sell the former Atletico Madrid man, has vowed to remain patient.
Talent
"Fernando will come back to his best. We are confident of that," Villas-Boas said.
"This is a talent that's never in doubt, but it is related to motivation. We have to be patient and turn it round.
"But it is only something that comes from self-confidence, motivation and hitting the back of the net.
"By motivation, I mean the feeling of putting the ball in the net more often. Motivation in the sense of the way you feel on pitch and goals you score."
The form of rival forward Didier Drogba is one reason that Torres is currently kicking his heels on the bench, and Villas-Boas admits the Spaniard could learn from the approach of his team-mate.
Selfish
"For me, it's indifferent who puts it in the net," he added. "I always decide for the benefit of the team. I just want Chelsea to be top of the league as soon as possible.
"But any player wearing the number nine on his back [as Torres does] lives for goals. Fernando and Didier can tell you exactly that.
"Strikers are the most selfish people in the world, and rightly so because they put the ball in the net.
"Finding the back of the net is important for any striker. It has had a major impact on Didier's run. Fernando will have to be the same."
