Chelsea flop Shevchenko backs Torres to come good against Man United

The ex-Chelsea and Russia striker Andrei Shevchenko became the biggest flop in Chelsea history when Roman Abramovich forced him upon Jose Mourinho a few years ago. Now he has the possibility of being surpassed by the 50m GBP purchase of Fernando Torres from Liverpool, who has notched up just one goal in eight months at Stamford Bridge.

But the ex-World Player of the TYear is backing Torres to come good in the coming weeks, and believes he could start his comeback by scoring against Man Itd today when Chelsea go to Old Trafford.

Shevchenko said: “Torres hasn’t become a bad player overnight – that just doesn’t happen.

“You don’t go from being world class one minute to no good the next. When a club has paid a lot of money for you, that obviously brings it’s own pressures, but you just have to go out and do your best on the pitch, and I know Torres does that.

“Great strikers don’t suddenly forget how to score goals.

“The reason Chelsea paid such big money for him is that he is one of the best strikers in the world, and that doesn’t change.

“I was watching him play on Tuesday when he didn’t score but made two ­important assists for the goals. That shows he’s putting it in.”

“The goals will come for him,” he continued. “Don’t forget he is still young. He has a big future with Chelsea. I am a Chelsea fan for life. They are a club that wants to win ­everything and they are a very big club.

“I think Fernando just has to be patient and work hard and he will get his rewards.

“It’s important that he doesn’t worry about anything that anybody is saying.”

“Chelsea fans are fantastic,” said Shevchenko. “It was great for me to play for them. I can sense that they are with Torres.

“You could see the way his team-mates ­reacted the other night that they are also right behind him. I would love him to ­succeed. People have to remember that players don’t make the price they are sold for. Other people do that.

“The main thing for him is not to think about just scoring a goal. They will come if he concentrates on the rest of his game.”

Shevchenko ended up costing Chelsea 2m for each and every goal he scored for the Blues. Torres has still got some way to go to reach that low level (currently he is on 50m per goal!) but surely that will get seriously reduced this season?