Benitez admits Chelsea's Fernando Torres not the same player

New Chelsea interim manager Rafael Benitez, has admitted that Fernando Torres is not the same player he had at Liverpool, and admits that he may never find that form again.

Torres has not scored in nearly two months, even though he has started every Chelsea game excluding Roberto Di Matteo’s final game in charge against Juventus.

Rafa is the first Chelsea manager to openly admit to the press that Torres may never be the prolific goal-scorer that he once was, which will not please Roman Abramovich, who paid £50million for the Chelsea flop.

Benitez said: “He’s not exactly the same player now, because he was at maximum level at this time at Liverpool.

“But I think he can come back. How close? I don’t know. It depends on the rest of the team.

“I’m sure he can improve but the team has to help him.

“The first thing is to give him some confidence, instructions as to how he can do things in a different way, improve him a little bit physically.

“You need to be stronger in defence, regain the ball easier and then you can create your own chances. That will benefit Torres.

“Players with mobility, quality… we can improve all these things.”

When asked if he was pressured to pick the Ex-Liverpool striker, he denied such things adding: “It’s easy at the moment because Daniel Sturridge is still injured.”

Rafa is yet to be in the job a week, but was asked if he had conversations about adding to the squad come January. He added: “I can guarantee I’ve been so busy, I haven’t had time to watch any DVDs, or have conversations about this or that player, I have to improve the players who are here.”

I’m not sure how much influence Benitez will have on possible transfer targets, but the type of player needed may be his only input. I’m glad he said himself that he’s been busy with the squad because Sundays game against Manchester City was lacklustre to say the least. He needs to work with the whole squad and not get caught up in Torres, who has been enough of a burden on the team already. Do you think Torres will take his Premier League tally to double figures this season? He currently has 4…