How will Torres respond to the Ba challenge?

Southhampton 1 Chelsea 5

The Spaniard now faces intense competition from new signing Demba Ba.

The former Newcastle striker’s instant impact following a £7m (€8.6m) move from St James’ Park — he scored twice on his debut in Saturday’s FA Cup victory at Southampton — creates a very interesting dynamic at Stamford Bridge.

Previous manager Roberto Di Matteo was refused permission to bring in a big-name to replace Didier Drogba in the summer because Abramovich was so determined to massage Torres’ battered ego. But not anymore.

Ba’s movement, determination and directness stood out in an impressive victory at St Mary’s and made you wonder what this Chelsea team could have achieved had he arrived earlier.

“He is good on the ball, good in the air, I think we have seen that the players understand each other and that he can be a threat,” enthused Rafael Benitez. “I think he will be a good addition for us. Now we have two different options, depending on whether we want to play one way or the other way.”

Therein lies the problem, however, if you are Torres. Despite quotes in his post-match press conference that suggested Torres and Ba could play together, Benitez later admitted he would be sticking with his one-up-front policy. So stand back for a battle for supremacy.

“I am realistic. You see the players who we have around — Mata, Hazard, Oscar. So maybe you can play Mata or Fernando or Mata and Ba. You do not need to play both together. But if we want to play with two strikers we can do it. Before, we couldn’t do it. But both are strikers, both are in the squad and they have to compete.”

Ba certainly did that on Saturday. His first goal was a poacher’s effort, forcing the ball over the line when it may have been heading there anyway from Juan Mata’s shot — and it was an important one because it equalised an excellent early strike from Southampton’s Jay Rodriguez.

But his second, after Victor Moses had made it 2-1 and Branislav Ivanovic headed a third, highlighted the energy, movement and hunger for goals that Torres has not always provided. In fact Ba started a flowing move and then completed it with a diagonal run across the area and an instant, flashing finish from Eden Hazard’s low cross.

A penalty from substitute Frank Lampard, which took his tally to 193 goals for Chelsea and level with Kerry Dixon in second place on the club’s all-time list, made the victory more convincing while Mata was undoubtedly the game’s outstanding player. But Ba’s contribution was the talking point — and Torres’ reaction will be interesting. Will he be inspired or will he wilt?

“Fernando is really pleased,” insisted Benitez. “He knows he cannot play every game, and he needs someone else who can give him a rest.

“If you analyse the last games, Fernando was working very, very hard. So I think it will be good for Fernando because he can be fresh and he can start making the difference in games where before he was a little bit tired. Also he can be thinking ‘he is pushing, so I have to push’.”

As for Ba, he said all the right things in his post-match interviews.

“I’m not that crazy,” he replied when asked if he should have grabbed the ball from Lampard to take a late penalty that would have given him a chance of scoring a hat-trick. And he was equally respectful of Torres.

“I’m just here to help the group. I’m not here to take anyone’s place. I know Fernando is the main man. His history is much bigger than me and I’m going to learn a lot from him.

“Can we play together? Ask the manager. If I have to play with him, I’ll play. If I have to be on the bench I’ll be on the bench and wait for the chance; and if he puts me on the pitch I’ll prove I can play. That’s it.”

At last Chelsea have a striker who talks sense, scores goals and smiles on the pitch and one who is far more than just ‘another option’.

The big question is how will Torres respond?

SOUTHAMPTON: Boruc 7, Cork 6, Fonte 6 (Hooiveld 64; 6), Yoshida 6, Shaw 7, Puncheon 7 (Lee 78; 5), Steven Davis 6, Schneiderlin 7 (De Ridder 54; 6), Ward-Prowse 6, Do Prado 5, Rodriguez 7.

CHELSEA: Turnbull 6, Azpilicueta 6, Ivanovic 7 (Lampard 65; 6), Cahill 7, Cole 7, Ramires 7, Luiz 6, Mata 9 (Oscar 79; 6), Hazard 7, Moses 7 (Marin 73; 6), Ba 8.

Referee: Mike Dean (Wirral).