• Premier League

Torres should consider Chelsea exit - Shearer

ESPN staff
March 8, 2012
Fernando Torres has only scored five times in 50 games for Chelsea © PA Photos
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Alan Shearer has expressed his amazement at Chelsea striker Fernando Torres' decision to snub a glorious offer to end his long scoring drought.

After Torres won a penalty during Chelsea's FA Cup replay win at Birmingham on Tuesday, designated taker Juan Mata offered his fellow Spaniard the chance to take it. But Torres refused the opportunity - and Mata went on to miss from 12 yards.

Torres has now scored just five goals in 50 games since joining the Blues from Liverpool, and Shearer suggests it may take a move away from Stamford Bridge for the Spain international to rediscover his scoring touch.

"It's baffling. I'm pretty sure the ability is still there but his confidence is obviously at an all-time low," Shearer told the Daily Star. "You have to help yourself in difficult situations. I hope he gets back to what he was - but it might take a move away from Chelsea to do it.

"It was always difficult for him going there because of the fee and whether he was the manager or the owner's choice. Sometimes you need to help yourself in those situations and he's not by not taking penalties. It baffles me - why not?

"I was very, very surprised he didn't take it. I was amazed. You've got a penalty, you're 2-0 up and you haven't scored for 20-odd games. When you're on a barren run like that it's a golden opportunity to score a goal. I was really surprised. No-one's going to hand you the opportunity from a yard out, so I was shocked he didn't take it."

Meanwhile, Mata has described the reasoning behind Torres' spot-kick reluctance. "I asked him if he wanted to take it because he'd won it," Mata said. "He said, 'I'm not first on the list, so you take it,' and that's what happened."

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.
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