Source: Daily_Mail
Chelsea 2 Aston Villa 0: Fernando Torres scores in the Barclays Asia Trophy final
Pre-season friendlies are not supposed to count for very much but when you cost ?50million you are not allowed any kind of fallow period.[LNB]Fernando Torres' return on Chelsea's investment had been one Premier League goal and, throughout their otherwise successful tour of Asia, the man who could once have claimed to be the best centre-forward on the planet has cut an often forlorn, frustrated figure.[LNB]However, with one touch, seconds after coming on as a substitute, Torres looked a footballer transformed. After driving home Florent Malouda's pass, Torres ran over to Chelsea manager Andre Villas-Boas and gavehim the thumbs-up.[LNB] At last: Fernando Torres (right) celebrates his goal with Didier Drogba[LNB] [LNB]MATCH FACTSASTON VILLA: Given, Young, Collins, Dunne (Clark 84), Warnock; Petrov (Gardner 74), Delph (Makoun 74), Albrighton (Heskey 46), Ireland (Bent 62), Delfouneso (Bannan 62); Agbonlahor.CHELSEA: Cech; Bosingwa, Ivanovic (Alex 46), Terry (Chalobah 90), Zhirkov (Van Aanholt 58); Lampard (Kalou 85), Mikel, McEachran (Torres 58); Sturridge (Drogba 58), Anelka (Benayoun 74), Malouda.[LNB]He promptly turned his marker with the speed and venom of old and was only denied a second goal by Shay Given's boots as Chelsea won the Barclays Asia Trophy rather more comfortably than the scoreline had suggested. Josh McEachran opened the scoringafter precisely 35 seconds.Aston Villa, who have been in the Far East only a few days and whose players, especially Richard Dunne, have had difficulty sleepingwere taken apart far too regularly for manager Alex McLeish's comfort. If Given is this busy when the season begins on August 13,McLeish may be in trouble.[LNB]Villas-Boas, who said he would use the two weeks in Asia to evaluate the squad he inherited from Carlo Ancelotti, suggested that he has been soimpressed it might not be necessary to enter the transfer market.[LNB] Off and running: Josh McEachran (third left) opens the scoring for Chelsea[LNB] 'The commitment, motivation and professionalism of these players ontour is not something I have seen before,' he said. [LNB]'It is not easy to come away from home and, in these difficult conditions, put in a tremendous effort in training and then find the motivation to play. This is a good, positive sign for us.[LNB]'The squad is very, very good. The talent we have is good talent. Maybewe will be the exception and not do anything in the transfer market.[LNB]'I don't know. What I do know is that we want to attack more. Even ourdefensive work has be used as an offensive weapon.'[LNB] Ouch! Gabriel Agbonlahor (right) feels the force of Frank Lampard's challenge[LNB] [LNB] Defensively, Chelsea have been outstanding. In six pre-season matches they have yet to concede a goal and won their four matches in Asia, where they played in front of a combined audience of 222,000, by an aggregate 11-0.[LNB] 'It has been a very intensive tour in all senses and I must congratulate the players for the superhuman effort they have put in,' said the Chelsea manager.[LNB]'It has been training, trips, commercial activities and matches non-stop so for the players to show this kind of freshness leaves me very confident and optimistic for the season ahead.'[LNB] Committed: Chelsea's John Terry (right) tackles Villa striker Darren Bent[LNB]Villas-Boas defended his lack of activity in the transfer market, which has brought two teenagers, Genk's goalkeeper, Thibaut Courtois, and Barcelona's defensive midfielder, Oriol Romeu.[LNB]Villas-Boas argued that by bringing players like Daniel Sturridge back from loan deals, he has already strengthened his squad.[LNB] Out of luck: Nicolas Anelka (left) is denied by Villa goalkeeper Shay Given[LNB]Sturridge, who blossomed after being loaned to Bolton last January,is likely to start the season alongside Torres, Nicolas Anelka and DidierDrogba.[LNB]'Daniel has been very good,' said his manager. 'He has shown he deserves to be here.[LNB] Give Villas-Boas time and he will deliver, says former Chelsea boss HiddinkMcEachran aiming to copy his pal Wilshere and win Chelsea placeAll the latest Chelsea news, features and opinion [LNB]
