SWANSEA manager Brendan Rodgers has warned Chelsea’s critics that they write off Fernando Torres at their peril as he prepares to take his side to Stamford Bridge on Saturday.
The duo have come in for criticism with Torres having endured a disappointing run since his £50million move from Liverpool in January.
Torres has scored just two goals since joining the Londoners, and was guilty of a glaring miss in Sunday’s 3-1 defeat to Manchester United at Old Trafford.
But Rodgers, who worked as youth team and reserve team manager under Jose Mourinho at Stamford Bridge, has no doubts the Spaniard is close to returning to his best, and revealed that he had been sent to watch the player in February 2006 as the Chelsea eyed a potential move for the then 21-year-old Atletico Madrid striker.
Rodgers said: “He is a class player, I remember going to watch him for Atletico Madrid, they were playing Barcelona at the Nou Camp.
“He was captain of Atletico Madrid and they won 3-1, he was fantastic and scored two goals. He was such a talent and at that point in time he was a real catalyst for Atletico.
“He has had a tough time with injuries, he is adapting to a new team, but there is no hiding the fact that he is a world class striker and he will return to that form.
“What I enjoyed about Torres last week was that he was aggressive again.
“There is no doubt he is one of the world’s leading strikers and I’m sure Andre and his staff will want to make sure his confidence is high.”
