Jamie Carragher: Fernando Torres near 'the end' of Chelsea career

Former Liverpool teammate Jamie Carragher believes Fernando Torres’ career at Chelsea is over.(Getty Images)

Jamie Carragher believes Jose Mourinho’s lack of faith in Fernando Torres means that the Spaniard’s career at Stamford Bridge is effectively over.

Mourinho travelled to Old Trafford for their clash against Manchester United with two recognised strikers (Torres and Romelu Lukaku) in his squad but left them both as he fielded Andre Schürrle as his most attacking player.

Mourinho has repeatedly told the media of his desire to sign a striker, and in particular, United fans’ favourite Wayne Rooney.

Carragher played with Torres for three-and-a-half years at Liverpool and says that Torres will most likely be a bit-part player under Mourinho as the form which saw him score 65 goals in 91 Premier League games for Liverpool has deserted him at Chelsea.

“I’m wondering if Mourinho was sending a message to the owner in the stands,” he said on Monday Night Football.

“We all know he wants Rooney, that’s obvious. He’s basically saying that his strikers aren’t good enough; that’s what he’s telling the world out there.

“You could say it’s probably the end at Chelsea (for Torres). I didn’t think he was going to have too great a time under Mourinho.

“As soon as Jose came in his quotes were quite negative about Torres. He started him in the first game against Hull and he was poor. I don’t think he got stripped for the second game against Villa.

“I’ve played with Torres at Old Trafford and he tortured Nemanja Vidic, he totally took him to the cleaners on this pitch in 2009. You wouldn’t have swapped him for anyone.

“But now he can’t even get on the pitch ahead of André Schürrle, who is only a winger. For me, in terms of an individual player, I don’t think we’ll ever see Torres come back to being the player we saw a few years ago against Vidic at Old Trafford.”