Torres: Nerves got the better of me against ‘Pool

FERNANDO TORRES has admitted that nerves got the better of him on his Chelsea debut against former club Liverpool last week, but has vowed to make the partnership with Didier Drogba and Nicolas Anelka work this season.

The Spanish forward, who joined Chelsea for £50m on transfer deadline-day, also wants to repay club owner Roman Abramovich for putting faith in him, while admitting that he can understand the venomous reaction of Liverpool’s fans to his departure.

“On my debut I felt very strange,” said Torres, who hopes to break his scoring duck for Chelsea in tonight’s match against Fulham at Craven Cottage. “They were my team-mates for the past three years. I felt a lot of tension the days before. I didn’t even have time to say goodbye to them, it all happened so quickly, so I spoke to them before the game at Stamford Bridge.”

Torres has accepted that he might need to play out of position for a while to earn his place at Chelsea. “When there are a lot of good players, it’s hard to find them a place,” he said.

“But it has to be done because with Drogba, Anelka and so many good players around it’s not possible to leave anyone out. Ancelotti has already done it in Milan when he had great players like Rui Costa, Seedorf and Kaka.” .”

Torres was on the receiving-end of abuse from Liverpool fans who felt betrayed by the manner of his departure and he was sympathetic to them. “I can’t begrudge the Liverpool fans,” he said. “People on the outside can’t understand some things about football. The same thing happened to me when Christian Vieri left Atlético. When I was an Atletico fan I didn’t understand it when a player left. So now I know that Liverpool fans don’t understand me.”

Meanwhile Chelsea’s other big new signing David Luiz accepts physicality will be just as important as philosophy if he is to succeed at Chelsea.

Luiz, who is set to make his first start for Chelsea at Fulham tonight, was brought up in Brazil with a firm religious background.

He believes that, as well as a strong work ethic, has stood him in good stead in his career so far.

“I am a guy with a lot of faith,” said the £25million January recruit.

“I believe when you have faith things will happen for you. My faith is what makes me strong and makes things happen for me. But I don’t cross my arms and wait for God to do everything for me. You have to want it and go for it and chase your dreams. My dream is to be admired as a football player and as a person.”

Luiz also accepts he will need to get used to the rigours of the Barclays Premier League.

“I knew the Premier League from TV already. I have also talked a lot to Ramires, he is always passing on positive information,” Luiz said.

“It’s a lot faster and more physical than where I have played before.

“But if I didn’t like the physical side of the game then I would be a tennis player.”

Carlo Ancelotti, meanwhile, has declared himself happy with the make-up of his squad following the additions of Luiz and £50million striker Fernando Torres.

“The squad is very good now with Torres and Luiz,” said the Italian. “We don’t need to add another player. We don’t need to think about other players because the squad now is very competitive. We reached our aims with Torres and Luiz.”

Fulham boss Mark Hughes realises the challenge ahead of his side tonight if Torres starts.

“Torres has been one of the Premier League’s top players ever since he’s come here,” said Hughes.

“He’s up there with the best of them and with that type of player you must pay a significant amount of money.”