Torres grateful for fans’ backing

FERNANDO TORRES has thanked Chelsea’s fans for refusing to turn on him after the £50 million man’s Stamford Bridge career hit a new low.

Saturday saw Torres experience the ultimate highs and lows for the second successive weekend after he got himself sent off for an ugly lunge on Swansea’s Mark Gower. The striker had just scored his third Chelsea goal and played a part in Ramires’ second but he made headlines once again for all the wrong reasons, much as he had done by missing an open goal after netting in the defeat at Manchester United six days earlier.

Those are merely the latest calamities to befall the club’s record signing since his January move from Liverpool, with the Spaniard taking an incredible 13 games to break his duck.

Yet, throughout all his travails, Torres has enjoyed virtually unwavering support from the Chelsea faithful, something that has not gone unnoticed by the striker. He said: “Obviously, when you are doing great, scoring goals from the first day and doing good performances, it’s easy for the fans to love and support you. But the first six months for me at Chelsea have been very, very difficult and I have been struggling, and I have always had the support of the fans. From the first day till now, every time I talk with them on the street, the cafe, everywhere, I can feel the support they are giving me.”

While Torres continues to endure a turbulent on-field Chelsea career, he says the same is not the case off it.

Indeed, the Spain star has found a home so near Stamford Bridge that he has begun walking to matches.

“It’s different playing in England, especially at Chelsea,” he added. “I don’t live far from the ground and it is nice to see the atmosphere before the game and all the fans waiting. They already know I’m coming but it will probably be more difficult next time!”