Wednesday, 28th November, 2012

New Chelsea manager Rafael Benitez has dismissed any suggestion Fernando Torres has lost some of his pace due to his age, and suggested that training sessions need to be structured to help the striker rediscover his old sharpness.

Torres was lethal for Liverpool when he first arrived in England and struck fear into the hearts of Premier League defences.



However, he has failed to show that same explosive pace and quickness over the first five yards that was on show at Anfield, since his £50M switch to Chelsea in January 2011.

There has been talk that Torres’ age – he is now 28 but will turn 29 in March – combined with the amount of games he played in his teenage years for Atletico Madrid, has led to a natural slowdown.

Benitez though does not see it like that and has insisted training for the striker must be personalised.

"I can guarantee that I have been talking with 15 players for five minutes, 10 minutes, half an hour; it depends on each player", the Spanish coach told Chelsea’s official site.

"Just talking about little things; what in the player’s opinion was wrong, what is right. I have been working with Torres, and with the others.

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"We have to improve some players physically and they will maybe come back to the strength that they had.

"Torres had very real pace and it is not because he is getting old, or injuries – he has to train in a way that will maybe suit him and we will have to find this way.

"There is some work in the gym, on his strength that maybe he needs to do again."

Benitez will experience his second game in charge of Chelsea this evening when the Champions League holders host Fulham in Premier League action.

While Benitez’s team stood solid against champions Manchester City at the weekend, earning a 0-0 draw, the Blues will now hope to go on a winning run.

For Benitez, who won two La Liga titles with Valencia, beating Barcelona and Real Madrid to the crown, something no other Spanish side have done since, winning the Premier League will be his ultimate aim at Stamford Bridge.

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