Source: Daily_Mail
Fernando Torres flops again but Cech dives to the rescue for Chelsea
Kicking up a stink: Fernando Torres endured a miserable night at FulhamChelsea's ?50m striker Fernando Torres flopped again as a 0-0 draw at Fulham all but ended their hopes of retaining the Barclays Premier League title.Manager Carlo Ancelotti dropped Didier Drogba to play the British record signing in his favourite formation, as forecast by Sportsmail on Monday, but ended up subbing the former Liverpool star after a miserable 71 minutes.Only a dramatic injury time penalty save by Petr Cech rescued the champions from defeat after their other ?25m new boy David Luiz brought down Clint Dempsey.Ancelotti tried to defend Torres by insisting he'd improved on his disastrous debut against his old club, even though he did not muster a single shot on target during another disappointing display.The Chelsea boss said: 'Fernando played well. He used his ability to move. He had some opportunities in the first half and I took him out just to use Didier fresh and with power. 'His performance was better than thatagainst Liverpool. It was a normal rotation. We wanted to have more control of the pitch in this game and to use the width in the second half. Maybe in the next game we will use both. 'Every striker wants to score. I don't think he's frustrated because he needs time to play with us and, after one week, he was really better tonight after that first performance.'I don't know if Didier was happy, but every player knows every game is important. It doesn't matter. We wanted to rotate to maintain his condition and to give everyone great motivation.' Chelsea are two points behind Tottenham Hotspur with 12 games left to play, but Ancelotti remains optimistic hisside can finish in the top four.He said: 'The most important thing is tofinish in the top four. I think we will be able to do this if we play like we did tonight. I'm an optimist and there's good reason to have confidence'One reason appears to be the arrival of Luiz, who, unlike Torres, shone. The defender almost spoilt an imperious display by conceding the penalty.Ancelotti said: 'Maybe he was tired. He'd played a very good game, showing fantastic ability as a defender and as a player.' Spot of bother: Petr Cech saves a penalty from Clint Dempsey, who then fires the rebound spectacularly wide (below) Fulham boss Mark Hughes said: 'Given the circumstances at the end, it's disappointment. It was a real opportunity to beat a very good side at the end. 'The penalty should have been retaken anyway because Drogba was encroaching in the box. (Referee) Mike Dean saw it: he was alongside Clint as he kicked it.'Luiz, who I've seen many times for Benfica, played very well. But I thought my two centre-halves stuck to their tasks as well. They've been absolutely magnificent all season.'Hughes added of Brede Hangeland: 'Brede did well to start the game after having a raging temperature all afternoon.'No hard feelings: Torres shakes hands with his manager Carlo Ancelotti after being substituted Fulham 0 Chelsea 0: Torres and Blues draw a blank again as title bid starts to fadeChelsea refusing to give up on Brazilian wonderkid NeymarCHELSEA FC