Time to end the Torres obsession

Premier League: Stoke V Chelsea

The word has been used at Stamford Bridge so often over the last few years that journalists in west London probably have a hotkey set up; and to be frank, it’s very difficult to avoid pressing it again this weekend.

At a time when the European champions should be revelling in the memories of a remarkable 2012 and looking ahead to a bright future they are instead involved in yet more uncertainty as owner Roman Abramovich continues to alienate fans in their thousands.

We are still a long way off seeing supporters turn on the man who has pumped millions into the club, he has simply done far too much for Chelsea to suffer that indignity, but as his side head for Stoke City there is a real uncomfortable feeling about the place.

Sacking Roberto Di Matteo set the tone; and since then there has been the hugely unpopular arrival of Rafa Benitez, a bizarre determination to force Frank Lampard out of the door and the continuation of a blind and irrational obsession with Fernando Torres.

In fact, for the first time in his Chelsea career, Torres was booed in the 2-0 Capital One Cup home defeat against Swansea, with the Shed calling for new signing Demba Ba to replace him.

It seems the perfect time to make that change from the start this weekend, especially given the aerial strength of Tony Pulis’ side which suits Ba’s game far better. But will Benitez be able to do it? He already faces being booed himself every week — and admits hearing Torres treated the same way was not easy, especially as the striker played with a stomach bug against Swansea, answering his manager’s call because Ba had a slight injury.

“I would prefer them to support the manager and the players. But that’s the way it is,” admitted Benitez. “I could not explain it at the time, but Demba Ba had a tight hamstring and Fernando had a stomach bug. I told him he had to play because we couldn’t play Ba.”

It is increasingly clear that Ba, whose knee problems mean he is rarely capable of playing twice a week, has not been brought into replace Torres but rather to act as his deputy.

Which is not what fans want to hear. “You can’t play the same a striker all the time. Signing Ba means we have different options just in case,” said Benitez. “Fernando has been working hard but he hasn’t been well. He is feeling better but still has some problems.

“As for Ba, you see the stats — he played one game per week for Newcastle. We knew that could be the case and are trying to manage it.”

It just goes to show how hamstrung Benitez really is as mayhem goes on around him. There had been encouraging signs that his tactical nous and progressive coaching style was starting to work on a group of players who should really be challenging for the title — and he will also have captain John Terry back on the bench today following injury. But the refusal to hand Lampard or Ashley Cole a new contract, not to mention frustration over Torres, make the job increasingly difficult.

“They are very good professionals, doing their best,” Benitez said of Lampard and Cole. “I do not know what will happen. They will focus on doing their jobs.”

Benitez must do exactly the same; but the only man who can really end this latest crisis, whatever the result at Stoke, is the owner himself.