Torres looks back with a vengeance

Chelsea 2 Manchester City 1

This time though, after securing a victory that may ultimately prove decisive in the Premier League title race with a winning goal in the final minute, suggestions the striker have been revived may not prove misplaced.

Spurred into action by a first half miss typical of his darker days at Stamford Bridge, the Chelsea striker proved the major figure in a game that confirmed the London club will stage a more potent challenge this season while exposing the frailties that could undo Manchester City’s efforts to reclaim the championship they conceded to Manchester United last season.

Torres was gifted the opportunity to fill the role of match-winner by the type of defensive misunderstanding that has, alarmingly for City manager Manuel Pellegrini become a feature of too many of his side’s performances this season and once again involving Joe Hart, the beleaguered goalkeeper.

Hart and centre back Matija Nastasic made a hash of dealing with Willian’s long ball and Torres reacted to roll the ball into a vacant net sparking a typically attention-grabbing celebration from Jose Mourinho and leaving the visitors — who had drawn level with a memorable goal from Sergio Aguero — utterly crestfallen.

Prior to that, however, the forward had showcased his other qualities, setting up Andre Schurrle’s opening goal with a powerful run that left Gael Clichy treading water and later hitting the bar with an exceptional dipping shot. Having scored twice in the impressive midweek win at Schalke and caught the eye at Tottenham before being dismissed, Torres can now look forward with a sense of relief at having scored his first league goal of the season, only his second of 2013.

“It was a fantastic performance by Fernando and, even better, because it came after an easy goal was missed,” said Mourinho. “That made it even better. When a striker misses an easy chance, he can be affected for the rest of the game. But it was like that was the moment he decided he would be man of the match. The fans were amazing and supported him, saw how hard he worked for the team, and saw his heart.

“We are all happy. It’s a very important victory against a team we could not beat last year. Even better was the feeling we played so well in the first half against such a good team.”

Pellegrini’s familiar charm was absent after the match with the Chilean refusing to offer his views on Chelsea’s winning goal. And it is unlikely he will have been soothed by the praise directed towards his side by Mourinho after a tetchy end to the game when the two managers failed to shake hands.

The City manager’s main concern is his side’s alarming away form — they have already lost three times on the road in the Premier League this season — a porous defence that gave away far too many chances and a goalkeeper whose confidence has suffered a succession of blows.

“I think we repeat the story from the three defeats away,” said the manager. “They’re all similar. We concede goals that the other team don’t deserve. We had control of the game absolutely, played very well second half, they caused no problems but lost in the last minute. What I think about the goal, I won’t talk about. I repeat that the analysis I do with individual players, I do with the players, not the press. You must ask the goalkeeper how his confidence is. I talk just internally with the players.”

Pellegrini’s mood was hardly helped by Mourinho’s showboating reaction to Torres’ winner.

“I don’t expect nothing about him,” said the City manager. “It is a different way to celebrate from me. No, I didn’t shake hands. Because I didn’t want to. I repeat, I didn’t want to shake hands.”

“I apologise if I did something wrong,” responded the Chelsea manager. “I was trying to get to my son who has a season ticket behind the away dugout.”

This was always going to be an intriguing arm wrestle between arguably the two leading contenders for the Premier League and but the respective strengths of the two sides frequently led to stalemate, particularly during a cagey first half. Twice Chelsea breached City’s unconvincing offside trap but Gary Cahill and Torres both shot over when they should have beaten Hart.

Torres made amends in the 33rd minute, taking the long way around Clichy before rolling the ball to Schurrle, who scored from close range. For the rest of the first half, Chelsea looked capable of adding a second. City though, hit back four minutes after the break, Aguero levelling with a run and shot every bit as explosive as Torres’s first-half efforts.

The game then developed into the kind of contest expected of two outstanding teams and while City shaded it for periods, they also proved they have the capacity to self-destruct.

“It’s a great moment for us,” said Mourinho. “In the first half we played fantastically against a fantastic team, and that’s not easy. We were better than them, and that’s not easy.”

CHELSEA (4-2-3-1): Cech 6; Ivanovic 6, Cahill 6, Terry 6, Cole 6; Ramires 8, Lampard 5 (Mikel 66, 6); Hazard 6 (Eto’o 84, 6), Oscar 7, Schurrle 7 (Willian 66, 6); Torres 9.

MAN CITY (4-2-3-1): Hart 4; Zabaleta 7, Demichelis 5, Nastasic 4, Clichy 5; Garcia 6 (Kolarov 80,6), Fernandinho 6; Nasri 7, (Navas 69, 6), Y Toure 6, Silva 8; Aguero 8 (Negredo 87, 6).

Referee: H Webb.