Chelsea set to keep faith with Torres
Reuters - Tuesday 05 April 2011, 20:30
LONDON - Striker Fernando Torres looks
like being given another chance to score his first goal for
Chelsea when they play Manchester United in the opening leg of
their Champions League quarter-final on Wednesday.
Manager Carlo Ancelotti told a news conference at Stamford
Bridge on the eve of the game that he had decided on his
starting line-up and hinted Torres would be in it.
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He has not scored in eight games since his 50 million pounds
move from Liverpool in January but Ancelotti
has not lost faith in the Spanish international.
"I have already decided the lineup. It is not easy to do
this, I have fantastic players, more than 11, it is not easy to
do my job," said Ancelotti.
"We have seen Torres play well for the team, he did not
score, he is not happy for this reason, but in my opinion he
played well for the team. He has an opportunity tomorrow
(Wednesday) to play the same."
Chelsea face United at home for the second time in five
weeks after beating them 2-1 in the Premier League last month
when a David Luiz goal and Frank Lampard penalty turned the
match their way after Wayne Rooney put United in front.
Brazilian defender Luiz is ineligible for the Champions
League, while Ancelotti added that defender Alex will not be fit
enough to play until the second leg at Old Trafford next week.
The Italian coach has a good record against United with AC
Milan and Chelsea but said that counted for nothing now.
"I want to be focused on the next game - tomorrow will be a
different history. We know we must play against a fantastic team
but we have confidence to do our best.
"It will be different because we have to play 180 minutes,
so obviously we want to start well tomorrow, but we have to know
that everything will be decided at Old Trafford (in the second
leg). Nothing will be decided tomorrow."