Unrest grows as Chelsea striker Fernando Torres again fails to deliver against Swansea
Pity Fernando Torres. Every time he seems close to shaking off the black cloud that followed him south from Anfield to Stamford Bridge two years ago this month, someone comes along to remind us all just how little he has justified his £50 million price tag.
For the first 18 months of his Chelsea service, his nemesis also wore Chelsea blue.
Didier Drogba’s powers appeared to be waning when Roman Abramovich’s most extravagant Christmas splurge brought Torres to Cobham.
It worked like a tonic on the Ivorian, who responded to the challenge to produce his defining performances while Torres shrank in his shadow.
With Drogba gone in a vapour trail of gilded memories of his winning turn in Munich, this season appeared to offer hope.
Everything has been done to try to wring something approaching his best from the striker, from guaranteeing him a starting place – ask Roberto Di Matteo, sacked after leaving him out – to recruiting Rafael Benítez as his replacement.