Rafa Benitez insists Fernando Torres will be boosted by Ba signing

By Paul Lagan
Monday, January 7, 2013
12:30 AM

Chelsea interim manager Rafael Benitez believes that Fernando Torres will benefit from the arrival of Demba Ba.

The former Newcastle man usurped the Spaniard in the starting line-up and showed his worth with a brace against Southampton.

“If you analyse the last games, Fernando was working very very hard,” he said. “So I think it will be good for Fernando also, because he can be fresh and he can start making the difference in games where before he was a little bit tired.

“I am sure that Fernando could have come on scored goals (against Southampton) anyway, because the team were performing so well. I said before that if the team create chances, the team will score goals.”

The competition for places up front should be good for Torres, reckons Benitez, as he won’t be required to carry the attack every game.

“Yeah, it is not the same as playing every game,” he said.

“You rest Torres and he will go to the next game with more energy. It will be very good for the team, because both players are good players, both can score goals, and if they are fresh they can make a difference.”

Benitez also reckons that both strikers could even play in the same game.

“I am realistic...you see the players who we have around - Mata, Hazard, Oscar...maybe you can play Mata or Fernando or Mata and Ba, you do not need to play both together. But if we want to play with two strikers we can do it. Before, we couldn’t do it.

“Ba knows he is at a top side,” added Benitez.

“He knows that there are good players around - he knows he can compete, hopefully he can compete at the maximum level.”

With the transfer window open only during this month, Benitez was asked if any more new players will be arriving.

“At the moment Demba Ba is our main one...we will see,” he smiled.