• Premier League

Di Matteo has '200% confidence' in Torres

ESPN staff
March 10, 2012
Fernando Torres looks a shadow of the player who terrorised defences in his Liverpool pomp © PA Photos
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Interim Chelsea boss Roberto di Matteo has vowed not to turn his back on Fernando Torres, instead pledging to persevere with the struggling striker for as long as it takes for him to rediscover his best form.

If Torres does not score within nine minutes of taking the field in his next appearance, then he will have gone 24 hours without finding the back of the net - a hugely disappointing return for a player who cost £50 million in 2011.

Alan Shearer suggested earlier this week that Torres may need a move away from Stamford Bridge if he is to turn his career around, but Di Matteo has no interest in letting the Spaniard leave.

"I will persevere as long as it takes. Persevere, persevere. He's a team player. If he doesn't score and someone else does, that's fine by me," he said. "If Petr Cech scores and we win 1-0, I'm happy. It will come. When you work hard in life on a football pitch, it will come.

"I have total confidence in him - 100%, 200%, whatever you want to call it. We have a squad and everybody is very important. I will try to utilise all the players we have and try to select for each game those who are appropriate for that game.

"We have 20 internationals, so your bench will be internationals and some not even on the bench."

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.
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