• Champions League

Chelsea weighed down by Torres price - Ferguson

ESPN staff
April 12, 2011
It was another frustrating night for Fernando Torres © PA Photos
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Sir Alex Ferguson has waded into the Fernando Torres debate by suggesting the striker's £50m price tag forced Carlo Ancelotti to play him against Manchester United in the Champions League on Tuesday.

Chelsea were beaten 3-1 on aggregate and Torres was hauled off at half time after an ineffective 45 minutes. Didier Drogba caused United far more problems and gave Chelsea hope with his goal.

Torres has gone 817 minutes without scoring for Chelsea and Ferguson expected him to play, given his price tag.

Ferguson said: "A lot of people thought Drogba would play. I thought having signed Torres for the money they did they had to play him.

"I wasn't 100 per cent sure but I couldn't see how they could leave Torres out."

Ferguson, however, feels Chelsea's decision to sign Torres was the correct one.

"They had the opportunity to sign Torres and I don't think anyone would have turned it down," Ferguson said. "Everyone said at the time it was fantastic business. You can't criticise him (Ancelotti) for that, it was a good signing. It isn't working at the moment but he is a young man and there are other seasons ahead.

"Torres has played against us quite a few times and he had a little goal spell at Old Trafford and got a goal at Anfield but we've actually done all right against him.

"It's made out that he's tortured us. He's a good player but with [Nemanja] Vidic's experience and [Rio] Ferdinand's experience they should be able to handle the best players in the world. They are in that sphere of being top players themselves."

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.
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