Torres Scored His First Goal for Chelsea

Torres pleased to end goal drought

Fernando Torres claimed the pressure had been lifted from his shoulders after he finally scored his first goal for Chelsea in their 3-0 win over West Ham.

The £50million man had not found the net for 901 minutes for club and country, including 732 for the champions since joining them almost three months ago, but it took him just eight minutes to do so after coming off the bench.
The Spaniard said on ESPN: "It was not the beginning I was expecting when I signed, but it's not easy to go in January or February.
"I kept working and it's thanks to all my team-mates that I scored. There's less pressure for me now, now I can enjoy it.
"The pitch was not the best to score the goal, but football is like this."
Torres insisted he had never got disheartened by the tough start to his Chelsea career, but admitted he owed the fans that goal.
"The fans have been very patient with me," he added on ESPN. "I had more and more anxiety for them than for me.
"Hopefully this is the first of many."
The joy and relief at Torres's goal was shared by his team-mates, who celebrated with him.
Didier Drogba, who came off for the Spaniard, added: "I was in the changing room and I wanted to run and jump on as well.
"We know we have a great player here, next season is going to go well for him."
Chelsea manager Carlo Ancelotti claimed Torres' goal will herald a new beginning for the striker.
"It was perfect today. Everyone waited for Fernando to score and he scored," added the Italian.
"For him it will be a new life. I think he will have a fantastic future here in this club
"The big problem was he came in to a new club and it was not easy to find a relationship with the new team-mates and the play but now the bad moments have gone."

Manchester United Goes Through To Semi-Final by Beating Chelsea 2-1 (Agg 3-1)

Quickfire Park Goal Keeps Treble Dream On Track After Substitute Drogba Gives 10-man Blues Hope

Manchester United progressed to the semi-finals of the Champions League after beating a disappointing Chelsea side 2-1 at Old Trafford.

Goals from Chicharito and Park were enough to secure a 3-1 aggregate victory for United over Carlo Ancelotti’s side who are almost certain to end the season without silverware. In an opening 45 minutes high in both intensity and action, Javier Hernandez saw a goal disallowed for offside on the 27th minute mark before giving the hosts the lead, having latched on to a sublime Ryan Giggs ball on the stroke of half time.

Sir Alex Ferguson's side then sealed their qualification for a semi-final match up with either Schalke or Inter with a confident second half performance as Ji-Sung-Park cancelled out Didier Drogba's equaliser only seconds after he had scored it on the 77th minute.

Having managed two AC Milan sides to Champions League success, the selection of Fernando Torres ahead of Drogba by Ancelotti certainly reflected a man with a firm trust in former glories. The Spaniard’s history against the Ferdinand and Vidic partnership is laced with triumph, though his form alongside the Ivorian has belied the £50 million spent to secure a move to Stamford Bridge in January. An all or nothing move, the selection of the former Liverpool man held a fitting symmetry to Chelsea’s last shot of glory this season.

The hosts, in comparison, started with a line-up deep in experience and short in talking points. The dynamism of Park down the left-hand side is a much-used weapon in the significant battles of United’s recent history, though it was Nani who graced the right-hand flank as opposed to Antonio Valencia, who had started in West London only 6 days ago. With both Rooney and Hernandez up front, Sir Alex Ferguson had typically set up a team with no intention of sitting on their away goal lead.