Many Chelsea fans will have mixed feelings about the depature of ‘El Nino’. While the majority of the press and other football fans will label him a flop, there are also plenty of successes that have come out of Fernando’s Chelsea career that are worth looking back on with fond memories.
There are a few that spring to mind, namely the classic Torres hatrick in the 6-1 drubbing of QPR back in 2012, that crucial goal against Benfica in 2013 EL final and of course the last minute winner against City at the Bridge last season. However the one particular moment that will live long in my memory is that remarkable night at the Nou Camp where up stepped Nando to break free, send Valdes the wrong way and slot home to send Chelsea on their way to making history that season. Gary Neville even said at the time, that, that one moment arguably paid back the £50 milllion – perhaps a little exaggerated but surely Champions League moments like that are priceless.
Despite the rare glimpses of quality, there have been long stages of despair and desparation for the fans and the player. For so many times have I witnessed people groan when Torres has picked up the ball and failed to deliver. For some unknown reason, be it confidence, injury or lack of self-belief, Fernando has just never been able to find the same level of consistency and world-class ability that made Roman Abramovich folk out £50 mill back in 2011, and therefore it is fitting that Fernando moves on as a new era begins with another powerful Spaniard spearheading the Chelsea attack, although hopefully a far more successful one awaits.
Over to you Diego Costa, and Farewell Fernando Torres.
