Fernando Torres on The Independent

James Lawton: Stop shooting your mouth off and start hitting the target

Tuesday 22 May 2012

Isn't it funny – or maybe just sad – how often we touch up the more implacable realities of life with a dab or two from the palette of special pleading?

$<b>Fernando Torres (Spain)</b><br/> Had David Villa not fractured his left tibia, he would be Spain's leading contender for the golden boot award. The Barcelona forward has shone in the big tournaments but with his participation this summer unsure, and should he return, just what state he will be in being uncertain, the need for goals could rest with Fernando Torres. His inclusion a couple of months ago would have been laughable, but that Champions League goal against Barcelona and his first hat-trick for Chelsea suggest the Torres of old may finally be back. Although if El Nino goes missing once more, a midfield that includes David Silva, Cesc Fabregas and Andre Iniesta means there are goals elsewhere.$

Chelsea duo Fernando Torres and Juan Mata added to Spain squad

Monday 21 May 2012

Champions League winners Fernando Torres and Juan Mata have been added to the Spain squad ahead of the upcoming friendlies against Serbia and South Korea, the Spanish football federation have announced.

Euro 2012 files: The golden boot contenders

Tuesday 08 May 2012

Euro 2012 kicks-off in just a matter of weeks and in anticipation The Independent will be running down the key factors and people to keep an eye on in Poland and Ukraine this summer.

'That special spirit is part of the DNA of these Chelsea players', says Roberto di Matteo

Wednesday 25 April 2012

Roberto di Matteo, the Chelsea interim manager, last night hailed the never-say-die spirit of his players that took them past Barcelona and into their second Champions League final in five seasons.

Seriously ill Petrov an inspiration

Sunday 01 April 2012

Aston Villa 2 Chelsea 4

Gary Cahill opened the scoring for Chelsea

Chelsea caretaker Roberto Di Matteo happy with Gary Cahill performance

Monday 19 March 2012

Interim Chelsea boss Roberto Di Matteo was happy with the contribution of defender Gary Cahill following his side's 5-2 win over Leicester in the sixth round of the FA Cup yesterday.

Di Matteo: Restored Torres responded in fantastic style

Wednesday 07 March 2012

Roberto Di Matteo's first team selection as Chelsea's interim manager last night was unremarkable in as much as it was the same XI, bar one, that had been fortunate to deny Birmingham City the win at Stamford Bridge in that might have brought the reign of Andre Villas-Boas to an even earlier end.

'We can't compete with City'– AVB risks Roman's wrath again

Saturday 03 March 2012

The Chelsea manager, Andre Villas-Boas, has risked further testing the patience of the club's owner, Roman Abramovich, by claiming his squad always lacked the quality to compete with Manchester City this season.

Daniel Sturridge underlined his credentials for a Euro 2012 berth with a useful Wembley display

AVB helps my England career, says Sturridge

Friday 02 March 2012

Daniel Sturridge has become the latest Chelsea player to affirm publicly the qualities of Andre Villas-Boas, crediting the Portuguese with being the first manager at Stamford Bridge to have helped his international career.

Didier Drogba says Chelsea players must take responsibility

Tuesday 21 February 2012

Didier Drogba stopped short of telling Chelsea to "man up" ahead of their Champions League clash at Napoli but called on his team-mates to take responsibility for getting their season back on track.

The most memorable transfer deadline day deals

Thursday 02 February 2012

Since the implementation of a transfer window during the 2002/03 season, 'deadline day' has become something of a highlight during the football season.