Torres set for Chelsea exit

Atletico Madrid's manager, Diego Simeone, has opened the door for Fernando Torres to return to his former club.Simeone told Spanish radio station Onda Cero: "Fernando knows about the club's history, what it means to play here, and I don't need to speak about his ability. We were team-mates. I know how important he can be." Chelsea want Atletico's Colombian striker Radamel Falcao as a replacement. He would cost around £48 million but Chelsea would be interested in a part-exchange deal involving Torres.Torres has endured a torrid time since joining Chelsea in a British transfer record £50million deal from Liverpool 14 months ago, scoring just seven Premier League goals and failing to find the back of the net in almost three months.

Match Report: Sunderland 1-3 Chelsea

Two goals from Fernando Torres helped Chelsea get their first win for seven games before they head to Japan for the Club World Cup.Rafa Benitez opted for the same side that beat Nordsjaelland 6-1 in the Champions League in midweek and the Blues started strongly, with Eden Hazard, Juan Mata and Torres going close in the opening seven minutes.Chelsea got the goal their early dominance deserved as Torres struck on 11 minutes, volleying home Hazard's cross into the area to finish a swift Blues counter attack.
Sunderland came back into the game and enjoyed long periods of possession of their own but, on the strike of half time, Seb Larsson brought down Ramires in the corner of the box and the referee pointed to the spot.
Surprisingly, up stepped Torres to double Chelsea's lead and send Simon Mignolet the wrong way from the spot. It got even worse for the Stadium of Light faithful on 48 minutes as Mata made it 3-0 to Chelsea. Torres hit a fierce drive against the post and it dropped to Mata, with the Spaniard making no mistake from close range.Victor Moses shot narrowly wide on 51 minutes before Sunderland stepped up to try and get something from the game. Adam Johnson got a goal back on 65 minutes with a swerving shot from a tight angle on the left that seemed to deceive Cech on its way in.The Chelsea keeper then had to be at his best to stop a Johnson free-kick 10 minutes later and, as the game petered out, Conor Wickham tested him again before Craig Gardner hit the bar from a dead-ball in injury time.
However, Chelsea held on to close the gap on Manchester City to four points but it means the pressure grows even more on Martin O'Neill at Sunderland.

Match Report :Arsenal 1-2 Chelsea

Chelsea captain John Terry came through a hostile reception at Arsenal as the Blues consolidated their lead at the top of the Premier League.Fernando Torres fired Chelsea ahead following some poor marking by Laurent Koscielny and Juan Mata’s free-kick squirmed in to secure three points for the European champions after Gervinho had equalised on the stroke of half-time.Former England skipper Terry was earlier this week found guilty of using racist language towards Anton Ferdinand by a Football Association hearing, but is awaiting the full written judgment of the independent panel, before deciding whether to appeal a verdict which saw him banned for four matches and fined £220,000.The 31-year-old has always protested his innocence and was found not guilty of a racially aggravated public order offence in a criminal trial during July.
Predictable chants of “you know what you are” from the Arsenal crowd greeted Terry’s first touch, as did jeers for former Gunner Ashley Cole. However, the Emirates Stadium faithful had little to sing about as the match wore on.While Chelsea came through their first real test of the new campaign, the Gunners again saw question marks raised over their defensive resilience.Arsenal had made a lively start, with Ivory Coast forward Gervinho again deployed down the centre as contract rebel Theo Walcott watched on from the bench.

On 11 minutes, Abou Diaby created space for himself some 20 yards out and shot fiercely at Petr Cech. However, the French midfielder’s injury jinx appeared to strike again as he was soon replaced by Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain.

Chelsea took the lead on 20 minutes with a brilliant finish from Torres. A free-kick from Mata on the right was floated through the Arsenal penalty area towards the far post. Koscielny was wrestling with Torres, but the Spaniard was still able to hook the ball back into the net.

Before Arsenal could regroup, they were almost 2-0 down. Torres robbed Koscielny out on the left and darted into the penalty area. However, as the goalkeeper came out and he shaped to shoot, the Spaniard tumbled, claiming his heel had been clipped by Koscielny. Referee Martin Atkinson, however, was having none of it.

Slowly Arsenal found their rhythm again. Gervinho was picked out at the far post and headed back across goal instead of at it.

The Gunners’ frustrations were starting to show as Aaron Ramsey was booked for a late tackle on Oscar in the 35th minute.

The Brazilian then also went into the notebook after another poor challenge on Mikel Arteta, who played a key role in the Gunners’ equaliser after 42 minutes.

Patient build up from right back Carl Jenkinson fed the ball back to Arteta, and he slipped Oxlade-Chamberlain down the flank.

His low centre across the six-yard box was collected by Gervinho, who had sidestepped Terry, with his back to goal, and he turned to blast a shot into the roof of the net.

Arsenal started the second half brightly, with Santi Cazorla snatching at an angled drive which flew wide.

However, the Gunners were undone again in the 53rd minute. Once more Mata’s curling delivery caused panic in the Arsenal penalty area and a backtracking Koscielny helped the ball on with the slightest of touches into the corner past Vito Mannone’s dive.

Arsenal had to regroup again, and were almost level when Cech brilliantly palmed away a looping header from Lukas Podolski.

Wenger had seen enough and made a double change after 66 minutes, bringing on Walcott for Ramsey and Olivier Giroud, who scored his first Arsenal goal in the midweek Capital One Cup win over Coventry, for Podolski.

Cech was on hand to palm away a deflected effort from Giroud as Arsenal looked for the equaliser.

Kieran Gibbs tripped Mata on the edge of the penalty area to give Chelsea another dangerous set-piece. This time, though, his shot went straight into the wall.

As the match entered the final 10 minutes, Arsenal continued to press for an equaliser, but were frustrated by a combination of poor passing and determined defence.

Giroud had a golden chance to snatch an equaliser in stoppage time, but was forced wide by Cech and could only smash his shot into the side netting.

Terry made a point of heading over to the travelling support at the final whistle, handing his boots to a couple of young fans.

Match Report: Chelsea 5-0 Genk

Fernando Torres scored twice as Chelsea hammered Genk to equal their biggest Champions League win. Raul Meireles set the hosts on their way with a long-range effort before Torres took Frank Lampard's ball to notch the second with a cool finish. Torres's angled header gave Chelsea their third before Branislav Ivanovic headed home Florent Malouda's free-kick to put the Blues 4-0 up at half-time. Substitute Salomon Kalou's second-half tap in completed the rout.

Match Report: Stoke 0 Chelsea 0

Stoke held Chelsea to a frustrating goalless draw as their resolute defensive performance kept the visitors' attacking talents at bay. Fernando Torres was Chelsea's sharpest player during a quiet first half as Stoke were limited to set-piece scraps. The Blues improved in the second half and John Obi Mikel went close before substitute Nicolas Anelka's shot was tipped onto the bar by Asmir Begovic. In a game of few chances, Chelsea will also point to three penalty appeals. Marc Wilson's trip on Frank Lampard was the most credible of those but they were a long way short of their form from the beginning of last season, when they began the campaign with two 6-0 wins. The result will also call into question Chelsea boss Andre Villas-Boas's decision to start with Torres instead of Didier Drogba. For periods of the game, however, there were instances when it looked like the confidence had returned to the Spaniard's game and he was certainly among the better performers. The striker's link-up play was sharp, plus he was willing to make intelligent runs into space to receive the ball, and his growing influence was underlined when Ryan Shawcross hacked down the 27-year-old for a deserved booking. But there were only glimpses of any urgency from Torres's team-mates as Stoke, who handed a Premier League debut to Jonathan Woodgate, defended stoically. Jose Bosingwa went close with what looked like a cross which was heading for the top corner, but Villas-Boas appeared agitated on the sidelines, not only by his side's lack of penetration but also Stoke's muscular threat from Rory Delap's long throw-ins. Ramires tried to inject some energy from midfield when he burst into the box but his cross whistled across the six-yard line, and Torres made a weaving run before a timely Shawcross tackle prevented him from shooting. The former Liverpool striker had a penalty shout at the start of the second half when Shawcross appeared to trip him on the edge of the box and it began a period in which Chelsea began to impose themselves at last. First, Torres failed to connect following John Terry's header from a corner, Lampard had another penalty shout when he appeared to be brought down, and Mikel almost scored his first Premier League goal for Chelsea when his dipping strike was tipped over. Florent Malouda was replaced by Anelka and his rising shot was expertly tipped onto the bar by Begovic, while Salomon Kalou had a header saved from Torres's cross. Drogba was then introduced, to cheers from the Chelsea fans, and fired a dangerous free-kick at goal. Yet as Stoke held firm, the visitors appeared to become frustrated as the game entered the final stages, with Lampard picking up an uncharacteristic booking. Potters boss Tony Pulis cautioned before the game that expectations may be too high at the Britannia this season, but on this evidence they will once again be one of the Premier League's tougher opponents. His only worry was the shoulder injury to Matthew Etherington, who was taken off after an hour. Pulis said the winger would go for an x-ray.

Chelsea 0 - 0 FC Copenhagen (agg 2 - 0)

Chelsea cruised through to the last eight of the Champions League for the sixth time in eight seasons despite being held at home by Copenhagen.
Yuri Zhirkov shot wide and Nicolas Anelka had an effort saved as Chelsea failed to add to a 2-0 first-leg lead.
The home side were give a scare when Dame N'Doye's free-kick hit the post.
The chances flowed for Chelsea but Jon Mikel Obi's header hit the Copenhagen crossbar and substitute Fernando Torres had a shot deflected wide.
Torres, who came on after 68 minutes, also burst past a defender before having a poked effort saved as he went six outings without scoring for Chelsea since his £50m January move from Liverpool.
A goal was all a Chelsea side, with the striking riches of Anelka and Didier Drogba also in their ranks, lacked on a night when they showed some glimpses of eye-catching football.
It was the type of performance which gives notice they are almost back to the kind of form which helped them to a domestic double of league and FA Cup last season.
Apart from N'Doye's rare chance for the visitors, an upset never appeared on the cards for a Chelsea side who have now lost only once at home in 26 Champions League games.
Instead, with the home side in such a commanding position from the first leg, the spotlight of match threatened to fall on whether Torres could break his goalscoring duck.
But Blues boss Carlo Ancelotti resisted placing such a focus on the Spaniard as he started with him on the bench, although Torres must have been looking on longingly as Chelsea relished their two-goal cushion by playing with freedom and fluency.
The roving runs of left-back Ashley Cole were an early feature of the Stamford Bridge side's play and he firstly laid the ball across for Frank Lampard to shoot wide before finding the side-netting with an angled shot after two well-worked moves.
Anelka was wrongly ruled offside when a simple pass for Lampard to tap in awaited, before Drogba's backheel and Cole's lay-off gave Zhirkov a strike at goal which the Russian sent just wide.

Blackpool 1 Chelsea 3

Two goals from Frank Lampard helped maintain Chelsea's Premier League revival and sent Blackpool tumbling to a second successive defeat.
John Terry gave the Blues a first-half lead after jumping unchallenged inside the box to head home a Lampard corner.
Lampard then converted from the spot following Ian Evatt's foul on Salomon Kalou and scored his second from 16 yards when put through by Kalou.
Jason Puncheon hit low beyond Petr Cech late on but it was merely consolation.
Substitute Brett Ormerod and Evatt came close at the very end for Blackpool for what would have been an astonishing ending, but at least Ian Holloway's men can take some solace from the fact that Puncheon's goal ensures the Seasiders - who are two points above the relegation zone - remain above follow battlers West Brom on goal difference.
For Chelsea, talk of a late bid for the title will increase as they are now nine points behind leaders Manchester United with a game in hand and a trip to Old Trafford yet to come. Their next Premier League match is against Manchester City at Stamford Bridge on 20 March.
Chelsea's inspiration came from an unlikely source in the form of Kalou, who replaced the injured Didier Drogba on the hour, and provided the visitors with much-needed directness which was lacking when Drogba and the the subdued Fernando Torres were leading the attack.
He and the impressive Lampard combined impressively after the break to secure the three points against a Blackpool team which showed great character throughout.
Lampard played a part in the opening goal when terrible defending allowed Terry the freedom to jink inside the six-yard box and superbly connect with the midfielder's corner for his fourth goal of the season.
The recalled Jose Bosingwa, showing impressive energy down the right in attack but perhaps susceptible in defence, nearly doubled the advantage soon afterwards only for Richard Kingson to stretch every sinew to prevent the defender's shot from curling into the top left corner.
Prior to the opening goal, Blackpool enjoyed plenty of possession but lacked the guile and potency that the suspended duo Charlie Adams and DJ Campbell would undoubtedly have provided.
However, JPuncheon sparked the home side into life when the on loan Southampton midfielder set off on a mazy run in the 33rd minute and outmuscled David Luiz. The 24-year-old looked to have beaten Petr Cech with his low shot but, luckily for the Blues goalkeeper, the ball ricochet off the inside of the post to safety.
Blackpool were their usual entertaining selves, but Chelsea were always dangerous at set pieces and in the dying minutes of the half the alert Kingson had to punch away a Lampard corner from the path of the advancing Terry.
The home side were once again in the ascendancy after the break and appeared to have been given a slice of good fortune when Chelsea were forced into an unscheduled substitution, replacing Drogba, who had been struck above the hip, with Kalou.
But it was Kalou who was the architect of Chelsea's two goals as the lively Ivorian was brought down inside the box by Evatt, which left referee Mike Dean with little option to award the penalty. Lampard sent Kingson the wrong way to score from the spot and shortly afterwards the midfielder made it eight goals in 12 games after being put through by Kalou.
Blackpool now faced an almost impossible task, which was was made all the more more difficult when Kingston was forced from the field with a knee injury and was replaced by reserve goalkeeper Mark Halstead for his Premier League debut.
Ian Holloway's side fought until the end and maintained their record of scoring in every home game when Crainey caught Bosingwa in possession and Puncheon collected a pass from James Beattie to finish beyond Cech for a lovely strike.

FC Copenhagen 0-2 Chelsea

Chelsea eased the pressure on manager Carlo Ancelotti as they cruised to a win over Copenhagen in the first leg of their last-16 Champions League tie.
Nicolas Anelka seized on a misplaced pass from ex-Chelsea winger Jesper Gronkjaer to fire the Blues ahead.
The visitors added to their lead when Frank Lampard's reverse pass found Anelka and he drove in a second.
Chelsea were dominant but striker Fernando Torres could not register his first goal for the club.
It was all too easy for Chelsea as their lacklustre Danish champions looked every bit like a team that had not played a competitive game since 7 December because of their league's winter break.

With Ancelotti's side desperate to keep alive their Champions League hopes after being knocked out of the FA Cup last Saturday and their chances of defending their Premier League crown all-but over, Copenhagen had a chance to add to Chelsea's misery.
Instead, a timid home side stood off their opponents and, the Blues were too good not to take advantage and earn a commanding lead for the return leg at Stamford Bridge.

Ancelotti paired Anelka with Torres in attack as Didier Drogba dropped to the bench and the duo, helped by some poor defending, responded with a performance of hunger and desire, which was also epitomised by their team-mates.
Anelka grabbed the glory with the goals but, if the finishing prowess of Torres had been as clinical as his partner's, the Spaniard would have scored his first goal for Chelsea since his £50m January move from Liverpool.

However, while Anelka ruthlessly punished Gronkjaer by powering in a shot from just inside the edge of the area to put Chelsea in front after 17 minutes, Torres failed to round off some of his pace and movement with a goal.
The Spanish forward's first real chance came when an off-target Ramires shot left him with a sight of goal but Torres' first touch let him down and allowed Copenhagen keeper Johan Wiland to fend away the danger.
The forward jinked his way into a promising opening as he produced the type of play which unnerves defenders, but his poked shot was again saved by Wiland.
A lunging Mathias Jorgensen tackle was next to foil Torres as Chelsea's main weakness was failing to add to their lead as they dominated proceedings.
Copenhagen appeared to be fearful of Chelsea and this was apparent when Anelka was allowed the time and space to turn and shoot at goal with his effort going high.
Chelsea keeper Petr Cech was belatedly called into action when he had a Martin Vingaard long-range shot to save after the break.
The Danes had drawn against Barcelona at the Parken stadium in the group stages earlier this season but could not rediscover the same sort of form as they looked a yard off the pace.
And Chelsea wrapped things up when Anelka again showed Torres how to finish with a first-time shot from Lampard's lovely pass.
After a faltering season, it was a welcome win for Chelsea and a surprisingly comfortable one given the fact Copenhagen had never before suffered defeat at home in the Champions League.

Torres Looks Forward to Liverpool Clash

Fernando Torres insists he will have no problem shooting down Liverpool on Sunday.
Torres, 26, is in line to make his Chelsea debut against his former club following his £50million switch from Anfield.And the Spanish striker has told Carlo Ancelotti not to worry about throwing him straight into action at Stamford Bridge.
He said: "It is like destiny. It is not perfect for me but we will see what happens and I only have good words about Liverpool."They made me a top player and gave me the chance to play at the top level. I will never say anything bad about Liverpool."I have been very happy there but now the history is different and I am playing for Chelsea."If I have the chance to play, I will do my best for Chelsea and hopefully I can score."
Torres admits he first started thinking about leaving Liverpool last summer.
He gave Roy Hodgson his full backing and appeared to be returning to peak form following the arrival of Kenny Dalglish.But the World Cup winner has revealed there was no way he could reject a move to London.
He added: "I felt from last summer that I needed to do a step forward in my career and for my ambition as a footballer."I am joining a team that is at the top level. There is not another level after Chelsea."I am joining with big names like John Terry, Frank Lampard, Didier Drogba and Nicolas Anelka and I can be part of this great team."Also, I wanted to join because Chelsea always have shown a big respect for me."They really want me and it is important when you have the support of the people in the club. The fans always showed respect to me when I came to Stamford Bridge and at Anfield.

"Now I am very happy to be a Chelsea player."Torres knows he is now despised on Merseyside but he insists the support of the Chelsea faithful is all that matters to him.He said: "When I played against Chelsea, there was always a big motivation because it was a special game — it was always one of the biggest games of the season."I want to say thanks to the Chelsea fans because I have seen them very, very happy with me for joining."If they are happy as well because I am not going to score any more against them then it is good.
"Chelsea have the chance every season to win all the trophies they play for, so when you have the chance to play in a team like this, you cannot say no."Torres is also looking forward to linking up again with former Anfield team-mate Yossi Benayoun, who is close to returning from an Achilles injury.He said: "Benayoun is my friend and on the pitch we have a very good relationship."Hopefully he can play as soon as possible and he will be fully recovered.

"It is exciting the possibility to play with him again, but as well with my other new team-mates."

Torres makes record move from Liverpool to Chelsea

Chelsea have broken the British transfer record by paying a reported £50m to seal the capture of striker Fernando Torres from Liverpool.
The 26-year-old Spain international forward signed a five-and-a-half-year contract with the Blues.
"This is the target for every footballer - to try to play for one of the top clubs in the world," he said.
"They [Chelsea] are one of the biggest teams in Europe and are always fighting for everything."
The signing was pushed through shortly before the transfer deadline and came on a dramatic day, with Chelsea and Liverpool involved in the four biggest transfers of the day.
The Anfield club looked to plug the gap left by Torres leaving by signing two strikers - Uruguayan Luis Suarez from Ajax for £22.7m and Andy Carroll from Newcastle for £35m.
Chelsea also brought in Benfica defender David Luiz for a reported fee of £21.3m.
But it will be the capture of Torres that sends out the strongest message that the club remain a force to be reckoned with in the transfer market.
Torres, a World Cup winner in 2010 and European champion in 2008 with Spain, spent three-and-a-half years at Liverpool after joining from Atletico Madrid for a fee of £20m, scoring 81 goals in 142 matches.
"I'm so happy and proud to be here," added Torres, who is available to play in the Champions League having only featured in this season's Europa League and could face Liverpool in the league on Sunday.

Bye bye Torres? Spanish hitman asks Liverpool to consider Chelsea's £40m offer

Liverpool face a fight to hold on to Fernando Torres after he asked them to consider Chelsea's sensational £40million bid.
The Blues lodged the stunning offer with their Barclays Premier League rivals but Liverpool revealed they have rejected the deal.
However, it has now emerged that Torres has hinted he would like to join the champions by asking his club to reconsider the offer.
Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich is expected to return with an increased offer for the 26-year-old, who had a £50m get-out clause written into his Anfield contract last summer.
The Barclays Premier League champions have been admirers of Torres for many years and have now made a move to try to get their title bid back on track.
Blues boss Carlo Ancelotti has refused to be drawn on his club's bid for Torres - but is happy that 'the club are trying to do everything they can to improve the squad'.
Liverpool this morning confirmed they have rejected a bid - believed to be in the region of £40million - from the Blues for their star striker.
But Ancelotti said: 'I don't want to speak about this, you will have to ask the club. He is not my player and I have to have respect for Liverpool. I don't like to speak about this.'
Ancelotti had previously intimated that the club's protracted pursuit of Benfica defender David Luiz would be their only major move of the January transfer window.
But, asked if the Torres bid had therefore caught him by surprise, he said: "I'm not surprised, because I know very well what the club is doing now.
I am happy because the club is doing a fantastic job in this transfer market. The club is trying to do everything to improve the squad.'
Didier Drogba's below-par form this season, owing largely to the Ivory Coast striker suffering from malaria, has been a concern for Chelsea but Ancelotti insisted Torres was not being targeted to replace his current attacking talisman.
'Drogba doesn't have a problem,' he said. 'He can play with anybody.
'For tomorrow I don't need more strikers. Maybe in the future, I don't know.'
Attempting to put an end to the topic of conversation, he said: 'Tomorrow we have an important game against Everton. I want to speak about this. If you don't want to speak about Everton, I can go and have lunch.'
Liverpool's owners, the Fenway Sports Group, are said to be determined to fend off Chelsea's interest and keep hold of the Spain World Cup winner, who arrived at Anfield from Atletico Madrid for £21m in the summer of 2007.
Torres has suffered a difficult season after returning injured from Spain's World Cup campaign in South Africa last summer.
However, the appointment of Kenny Dalglish as manager following the departure of Roy Hodgson appears to have lifted the striker, who has shown his prolific form of old in recent weeks, scoring three goals in four matches.
Chelsea will have to move quickly if they want to tie up a deal for Torres before the transfer window closes at 11pm on Monday, but it will take a huge offer to persuade Liverpool chairman John W Henry to sanction the sale.
Henry will be wary of a backlash from the Anfield faithful should they lose their talisman, while the likes of skipper Steven Gerrard would also see his departure as a sign that the club lacks ambition, and may even force him to consider his own future.
Torres's contract, which runs until the summer of 2013, is worth £110,000 a week but Chelsea could easily double that.

Chelsea Bid £40m for Torres

CHELSEA have had a £40million bid for Fernando Torres rejected by Liverpool.
Blues owner Roman Abramovich personally set the offer in motion, after pinpointing the Kop goals king as his No 1 transfer target this winter.

An Anfield source confirmed last night: "Liverpool have had an offer for Fernando Torres from Chelsea and it has been turned down. He is not for sale."

Abramovich may be hard to shake off, though. And after failing with a similar bid for the player in the summer, he could now go as high as £50m for the World Cup winner over the weekend.

If the Russian billionaire does get his man, the Spaniard's first match could be against Liverpool at Stamford Bridge on February 6.

It is thought Torres has a gentleman's agreement allowing him to leave in the summer.

But Chelsea are banking on the Merseysiders deciding it is best to cash in now - especially with their deal for £25m-rated Ajax striker Luis Suarez almost sealed.

Liverpool are in no mood to give up their prize asset without a fight.

New boss Kenny Dalglish has intervened in a bid to persuade top scorer Torres, 26, to stay put. The hitman cost £26.5m from Atletico Madrid 3½ years ago.

Kop forward Milan Jovanovic has turned down a £6m move to Wolfsburg, the German club managed by former England boss Steve McClaren.

Chelsea are sure they will land Benfica's Brazil centre-back David Luiz, 23, before Monday's transfer deadline, even if they have to pay the full £25m asking price, and have applied for a work permit.