Fernando Torres Will Improve Under Jose Mourinho at Chelsea

Fernando Torres has had a torrid time since making his £50 million move from Liverpool to Chelsea in January 2011. Having scored 81 goals in 142 appearances for the Reds, his return of 34 in 131 outings for Chelsea has been derided across the footballing world.

"I am the first to admit that a lot more was expected of me, even I expected more of myself," the striker spoke told Spanish radio show Al Primer Toque (via The Mirror) in June about the pressure he has felt since moving to Stamford Bridge.

Didier Drogba’s departure in the summer of 2012 was supposed to be just the tonic that Torres needed, but it took a reunion with former manager Rafa Benitez and a broken nose to show signs of a real recovery.

Therefore, when it was announced that Jose Mourinho would return to Chelsea, many believed that Torres would be on his way out this summer.

However, "The Happy One" has said that he intends to get the best out of Torres by adapting the team to suit his game, according to Steve Brenner of The Telegraph.

"When we see Torres with his back to goal surrounded by two or three opponents, we know that he is not going to produce a piece of magic," the 50-year-old told reporters earlier this month, according to Goal.com.

He had become accustomed to playing the role of star striker at Anfield, feeding his prolific appetite for goals with perfectly weighted passes from Steven Gerrard. Meanwhile, his teammates at Chelsea were used to playing with a striker who could use his strength to out-muscle defenders.

Torres’ inability to adapt to this meant that he often found himself floating aimlessly on the edge of the box.

The Three Amigos—Eden Hazard, Juan Mata and Oscar—created the majority of Chelsea’s goals last season, but their style of play does not fit with Torres’ desire to hang on the shoulder of the last man.

Marco van Ginkel can provide the sort of balls over the top that Torres needs, and with Mata set to play out on the right, the service he will receive next season should suit his style.

Mourinho will also deflect much of the negative media attention that Torres has received. His ability to focus the spotlight on himself and away from his players has been key to his success as a manager.

In June, according to Goal.com, Torres told reporters, "I never had a problem with the media, the media had a problem with me. That affects your family, your friends, it's not easy." Therefore, it is clear that a media savvy manager will help to calm his nerves.

Despite all this positive rhetoric, Mourinho has made it clear that Torres will still have to compete for his place in the starting 11, according to BBC Sport.

Chelsea relied on him heavily last season as Demba Ba’s ineligibility for the Europa League left him as the only available striker. His six goals, including the opener in the final, were key to Chelsea’s only trophy success last season, and he will be hoping for a similar return in the Champions League this year.

If he can achieve this, and improve on his seven Premier League goals, he will be as happy as his manager. In the words of Torres himself, "Chelsea is the club I'm at and where I want to be, I want to keep winning trophies there."

Luckily for him, Mourinho is the perfect manager to help him achieve that goal.