Chelsea manager Roberto di Matteo has said that he cannot guarantee a starting place for Spaniard Fernando Torres, who is now the main strikers at Chelsea following the departure of Didier Drogba at the end of last season. The 34-year-old Ivorian international brought an end to his stellar career with the London club last season. He helped them lift the Champions League title with his last ever kick in a Chelsea shirt. Fernando Torres was in the shadows of Didier Drogba in the last 18 months, but many have been predicting that he will be emerging as a much better player in this season.

Due to the fact that he is the most experienced and best player in the position right now, he is expected to be handed a starting place without any competition. Daniel Sturridge and Romelu Lukaku are the two players competing for his position. Yet, Chelsea manager Roberto di Matteo has confirmed that Fernando Torres does not have the starting place lined up already prior to the start of the pre-season proper. The Champions League winning manager has said that Torres must earn his place like every other member of the squad. He has also said that the press should remove any speculation about the future of Frank Lampard.

“There is no concerns about Fernando at all. I did have a chat with him the morning after the final, and have been in touch since as well. It [the disappointment] was a feeling he had at the time, but I will continue to speak to the players. I am expecting him here in a good mood, to be buzzing and be very good next season,” said Roberto di Matteo. The Chelsea striker managed to win the Euro 2012 and also the Golden Boot award. He thus finished the season with three trophies in the bag.