Is Torres back? Let’s hope the mask stays on!

It has been a while since my last post and as expected there has been much development in the world of Chelsea during my absence. We’ve knocked Manchester United out of the FA Cup, progressed to the semi-final of the Europa League, seen a slight change in mood towards interim manager, Rafa Benitez, but perhaps the best news of all has been Fernando Torres breaking his nose.

No matter how busy my schedule might get, I will always find time to watch The Blues, and the less attractive fixtures like Steaua Bucharest serve as no exception. In that particular game, Fernando Torres got his head kicked in, which evidently didn’t go down too well with the Spaniard, as he proceeded to angrily charge around the pitch until someone let him score a goal.

In actual fact, he played very well. A crooked nose, two blood-covered shirts, including one with no name or number on it, proved to be a far more effective combination than a long haircut and a bottle of blonde bleach. Regardless, a change of shirt for every game just isn’t a sustainable method of keeping a striker firing. Instead, the kit men would have to come up with something far more feasible.

Admittedly, it might have had something to do with the broken nose, but they decided on a rather stylish, Dark Knight-esque mask, and since putting it on, Torres has become a new man – assertive, determined and most importantly, clinical. Such a surge in form can only lead us to question if the accessory has transformed him.

I’ve always thought Torres was a very human player, one who thrived on confidence rather than raw talent itself, but just like Batman, he now has something to hide behind. I’m insinuating that the mask has quite literally made him feel like a superhero.

Now this would suggest that there are serious psychological issues influencing the Spaniard’s game, as most players only impersonate a superhero after they’ve scored. What we get is the reverse. For a brief moment we can see the Torres of old when he celebrates scoring a goal with his trademark slide of the knees and out-stretched arms. His human side is accompanied by a huge sense of relief every time he does something right for Chelsea, which for me, clearly says that he is a man battling against his own insecurities.

For the fans it is understandably hard to come to terms with, and in such a demanding position, the club can’t really afford to rely on him. I for one can’t help but sympathise for our number nine, and would take great pleasure in seeing him resolve his issues, if not for the club, then for himself as a professional. I fear that a move abroad could be imminent, although I’d happily see him move to another team if it meant the revival of his career.

In the meantime, we can enjoy the persona he has taken on in the mask and hope that Spanish bones don’t heal in a rush. Keeping it on could make all the difference as we challenge for yet another FA Cup and European title.

Follow Chris @CynicalCME