Fernando Torres Has Been Ruined By Chelsea - Mauricio Pochettino

Southampton manager Mauricio Pochettino believes Chelsea might be responsible for the decline of striker Fernando Torres.

During his time at Espanyol, Pochettino was pitted against a fearsome Torres when he broke into the Atletico Madrid first team and the 41-year-old remembers being tormented by the young striker.

Torres left Atletico for Liverpool in 2007 and took to Premier League life exceptionally well. But since a £50million move to Stamford Bridge, the Spain international has struggled to recapture the devastating form shown in Madrid and on Merseyside. Pochettino, whose Southampton side aim to topple Chelsea at St Mary’s this afternoon, believes Torres has not looked at ease since moving to west London.

'I have played against Torres many times and he scored some goals against me,’ Pochettino said.

'I remember him being a quality player, full of strength and a player who knew which spaces to run into to create chances. 'Sometimes it happens where a player is comfortable and feels happy at a certain club as he was at Atletico and at Liverpool.

'But when you leave that club and join a new team maybe you do not feel as comfortable and as happy and that can affect your performances.

Source: Daily Mail