First goal takes pressure off Torres

Fernando Torres claimed the pressure had finally been lifted off his shoulders after he scored his first Chelsea goal in their 3-0 league win over West Ham on Saturday.

The Spanish striker, who cost Chelsea 50 million pounds when he joined from Liverpool in January, had not found the net for 901 minutes for club and country, including 732 for the champions.

But it took him just eight minutes to do so after coming off the bench in the second half at Stamford Bridge, and the resultant celebrations in which the remainder of the Chelsea XI piled on top of Torres spoke volumes about the goal.

“It was not the beginning I was expecting when I signed, but it’s not easy to go in January or February,” Torres said.

“I kept working and it’s thanks to all my team-mates that I scored. There’s less pressure for me now, now I can enjoy it.”

“Today the pitch was not the best to score the goal, but football is like this.”

Torres insisted he had never got disheartened by the tough start to his Chelsea career, but admitted he owed the fans that goal.

“The fans have been very patient with me,” he added.

“I had more and more anxiety for them than for me. Hopefully this is the first of many.”

Didier Drogba, who made way for Torres having performed impressively up front, was delighted that Torres had broken his drought.

“We know we have a great player here. Next season is going to be fantastic for him,” he told ESPN.

“The most important thing today is the three points and Nando’s goal.”

“We have to focus on second place. Winning this game and being in front of Arsenal is the first step.”