Torres’s Uninspiring Arrival Shows why Didier is Still the Top Drog at Chelsea
Prior to his side’s crucial Premier League showdown, sleepless nights surrounding team selection would have plagued Carlo Ancelotti.
The £50 million acquisition of Fernando Torres has proved to be more of a hindrance than a luxury for the Chelsea manager, as the Italian is forced to interrupt his tried and tested striking policy to accommodate the former Liverpool man.
Drogba’s recent form is starting to resemble that of the record he began this term with. In his opening ten games in all competitions this season, the Ivorian had scored six goals and had provided seven assists.
A barnstorming opening was abruptly halted as Drogba contracted malaria – the strain of such a disease was evident on the striker. And then in the subsequent transfer window came Torres.
The Spaniard has struggled to make the significant impact many predicted, his solitary goal and assist are a statistical reminder of how Torres, despite his well-thought movement, is starting to resemble Andriy Shevchenko’s time at Stamford Bridge.
Torres is still adapting to the transition between Liverpool’s style of play, where he was very much a focal point, and Chelsea’s, which has more emphasis on build-up play between defence and midfield.
Pairing Torres and Drogba together has yet to reap rewards. The two combined should, considering their contrasting traits, be effective. Drogba’s ability to hold the ball up is matched by Torres’s prowess around the box, his capability of ghosting between defenders and finishing with either foot.
As it is, Chelsea are interrupted when they switch to a 4-4-2 system. Ancelotti has used a 4-3-3 formation for the majority of matches during his reign, and after an uninspiring trial against Tottenham, the Italian decided his best method of attack at Old Trafford was to leave Torres on the substitute bench.
So how will Ancelotti, assuming he’s still in his post for next season, keep Torres and the man who parted with the money to fund his arrival, Roman Abramovich, content?
Drogba’s agent has recently dismissed speculation which suggested his client will leave Stamford Bridge this summer. At 33, the Ivorian is reaching the latter stages of his career but his performances suggest he can still significantly contribute to Chelsea’s campaign next term.
Nicolas Anelka, who has found himself on the bench to allow Torres playing time, has shown no intention of leaving the club, while Daniel Sturridge, who’s injected Bolton’s attacking line with zest during his loan spell, is set to return to west London this summer.
This subsequently leaves Ancelotti with the nagging problem he’s faced since January. His system requires just one focal point in attack. Anelka alleviates the situation as he can play on the right flank, but Torres, Drogba and Sturridge are all vying for that central spot.
Selling Drogba could be one solution. There would be plenty of suitors, although his wage demands may block any potential move back to his former club Marseille. But his departure would be a foolish move, given the fact he’s leading Chelsea’s assists charts with 13 this season, while second to Florent Malouda in the club’s top scorer ranks.
Rotating between strikers also has its downfalls. It destroys any momentum, and a striker who’s consistently finding the net would be a difficult player to leave out for the sake of keeping his fellow team-mates content.
Over the summer, Ancelotti faces a tactical re-think in a bid to accommodate his wealth in personnel. It’s a problem many in the Premier League, particularly Steve Bruce, who is without a recognised striker at Sunderland, would love, but the Chelsea manager so far has struggled to fully utilise the talent at his disposal.
