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AVB gives 2-game warning on ‘Nando’

Comment: 0 September 9th, 2011 by: admin

DELIVER in the next two games or be dropped.

This was the stern warning Chelsea manager Andre Villas-Boas issued to underperforming Fernando Torres who continues to misfire for the Blues.

His patience apparently wearing thin, Villas-Boas  gave the Spanish striker to raise his game in their coming two fixtures or he will be scratched from the starting eleven.

The Portuguese boss said he will not jeopardise his team’s ambitions for the sake of an individual, while stressing that he has “no problems dropping players.’’

Alluding to Torres, Villas-Boas added: “At the moment, when it compromises the running of the team, it has come to an end. I don’t have a first-choice striker. We have to make choices regarding what we see in training.’’

The 26-year-old Torres, who a day ago was dropped from the Spanish national squad, will have his chance to prove his mettle in the absence of Didier Drogba due to concussion. The 50-million-pound signing last January has netted just one goal in 21 appearances for the Blues.

He will most likely start for the Blues in their Premier League tiff against hosts Sunderland on Saturday and in their Champion’s League opener against Bayer Leverkusen on Tuesday night.

Villas-Boas credited Torres’ uninspiring performance to his lack of confidence despite the talent he possesses.

“I don’t think he’s lost pace. I don’t think it’s even a question. It’s related to the space that you find, the timing of the run and the opponenets,’’ Villas-Boas said.

If Torres’ form does not improve, Villas-Boas said he is ready to tap in players who could ably fill the Spaniard’s slot, among them Torres’ compatriots Juan Mata and Oriol Romeu.

Torres’ dumping from the Spain roster came after he did not even made the bench last Tuesday during their 6-0 drubbing of Liechtenstein that sent them through to Euro 2012.

During his stint with Liverpool, Torres scored 81 times in 142 matches.

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