Monday, 10th December, 2012
Chelsea striker Fernando Torres believes it will take time for the side to get used to new manager Rafael Benitez, but thinks the evidence of a team already starting to adapt is clear to be seen.
Torres was on target twice for Chelsea in their 3-1 weekend win over Sunderland at the Stadium of Light and the Spaniard enjoyed some of the finest form of his career under Benitez at Liverpool.
Benitez has been brought in as Chelsea boss until the end of the current season, following the club’s decision to sack Roberto Di Matteo. It has been mooted in some quarters that the Spaniard was appointed chiefly for his ability to get the best out of £50M man Torres.
Chelsea suffered a stuttering start to life under Benitez, drawing 0-0 against Manchester City and Fulham, before losing 3-1 against West Ham.
They did then beat FC Nordsjaelland 6-1 in the Champions League, before making it two successive victories against Sunderland.
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And that may show the Blues are starting to adapt, something Torres knew would always take time.
"We are playing a bit differently", he told his club’s official site.
"We don’t pass the ball as much as we did before in the final third of the pitch and we try to play more direct, and explode the players forward with Victor Moses or me or Eden Hazard on the left.
"We are using the quality of Oscar or [Juan] Mata in the middle and we are attacking more and making more chances.
"We are working as a team, as we did in the beginning of the season with Robbie [Di Matteo], but normally takes some time when a new manager arrives and changes things like this, but the results last Wednesday and on Saturday are going to give us more confidence, the only thing we need now."
Chelsea are next in action in the FIFA Club World Cup, having arrived in Japan on their quest to become world champions.
The Blues play Mexican outfit Monterrey on Thursday as they bid to qualify for the final of the tournament, where Brazilian side Corinthians are expected to be waiting.
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