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`Missing’ Nando

Comment: 0 September 23rd, 2011 by: admin
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IT was as simple as tapping the ball into the open net.

Yet Fernando Torres, for all his immense reputation as a world-class player, still bungled it.

The possibilities that may transpire had he succeeded in doing so may have turned him into a different football personality by now – from the once-maligned into the adored, looked-up-to-heaven striker that he used to be.

Had the ball found the back of the net instead of it flying wide and off the mark, Chelsea could have made a last-gasp bid against Manchester United. They could have altered the complexion of the fixture in its waning minutes.

CENSURED CAREER

More importantly for Torres, it could have injected vigour back to his flagging career that has been faulted left and right since he shunned the Liverpool Reds uniform in favour of the Blues jersey.

Torres had earlier showed signs he’s back when he made Chelsea’s first goal that proved to be their last that Sunday afternoon in front of a boisterous crowd at Old Trafford.

Alas, he fumbled when the second opportunity knocked in the 83rd minute. After having been fed perfectly from the middle, he masterfully rounded United goalkeeper David de Gea but horror of horrors, he flicked the ball wide and out.

Everyone saw how dejected Torres was as he knelt amid the loud heckling of the United faithful. The Premier League’s most expensive player had committed what could probably stand as this season’s most embarrassing miss.

So from nearly a hero again, he plummeted to being the villain who could do nothing right.

PRESSURE REMAINS

How could someone deemed as one of the most feared attackers in the world miss on that? Where was his thirst for goal? Unfortunately, that miss only revealed that his slump is not yet over and that he is still reeling from pressure.

A 2-3 count had it rolled in could swing the momentum in Chelsea’s side. A mental edge could have spurred the Blues to salvage a draw. And Torres could have been back with revenge no matter what the outcome had been. All he needed was knocked the ball in, but fate would not allow him to.

United, who eventually won 3-1, had a similar version of the flub in Wayne Rooney but the Old Trafford hero was easily forgiven after having misfired on a penalty shot. Luckily for him, he made one of those goals in that victory that made it a perfect 5-for-5 start for the Red Devils this season.

It seems anguish and pressure won’t let go off Torres just as yet. They would only die down probably when he starts scoring again in abundance.

What came to pass only strengthened the fact that missing big-time is not new to renowned players. It really happens to the best of them. Lionel Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo and Rooney, arguably three of the finest players in the world, also had their fair shake in failing to convert shots. But they moved on.

If that’s the case, Torres, the Blues’ $79.5-million British-record signing last January, can equally leave that misadventure episode behind and look to the future with renewed optimism.

This is no time to sulk for Torres just because of that single error. There still people, and surely his fans, who believe he would be back on his feet anew.

MORALE BOOSTERS

Chelsea boss Andre Villas-Boas has not deserted him in his time of distress. The Portuguese mentor did not condemn his player, even calling him “fantastic’’ to fire up his morale. Even his teammate, goalkeeper Petr Cech, expressed solid backup for the Spaniard whom he said would be in his scoring best again.

Torres needs more playing time to recoup and he knows this. Villas-Boas knows this too and only his confidence in his player could make the latter realise deeply that he is an important figure whom the Blues need to provide them spark or to be more apt, to provide them goals.

As he tries to put things back together, Torres must believe that he can be great again.

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