Chelsea questions Fernando Torres over criticism of teammates

Fernando Torres, step into Andre Villas-Boas' office.

After Torres called out his "very slow" and "old" teammates on Spain's Primera Liga website and later translated to English on his personal site, Chelsea's management has decided to review the comments in what is the latest low moment for the striker since joining the club last January.

"We are going in-depth to regain the tape of that interview," said Villas-Boas, the Chelsea manager. "We'll see if things play exactly as they are in that interview."

Torres has scored a grand total of one goal for the Blues in 18 Premier League games. It's not quite what Chelsea expected when it dished out over $79 million for the former Liverpool player, who had much more success at Anfield with 65 goals in 102 league games.

But, according to the translation, Torres did have an excuse for his lack of offensive power prior to being benched in Chelsea's 2-1 win over Sunderland over the weekend.

Torres' website, in Spanish, sees the 27-year-old say that the type of players Chelsea have "juega muy lento" - which translated means, "play very slowly". However, Torres has stated that he was misquoted by the online publication.

Still, those words struck a nerve with Villas-Boas, and if the translation proves accurate, the 33-year-old coach will surely take the proper action.

"We'd just talk. Just talk to share opinion. If it was unauthorised, I'd fine him. Of course. Anyhow, it's one player's perspective," Villas-Boas said. "I don't think it's a perspective that the manager shares. I don't have to share my players' ideas sometimes.

"I think we have competence, apart from the 'age problem', which for me is not a problem. Maybe we just have to speak about that situation and he has to see our view as well."

It is unclear if Torres will once again be on the bench Tuesday for Chelsea, which watched Daniel Sturridge take his place and score the team's second goal against Sunderland. If he sits, Villas-Boas expects some unhappiness.

But, as he says, who would be happy on the bench?

"I think any player who's not part of the squad or part of the selected players is not happy," Villas-Boas said. "I'm glad because maybe you can stimulate them to go one step further or motivate them a bit more." 

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