Fernando Torres: I'm scoring for the Chelsea fans
The Spaniard has scored in consecutive games for the first time since joining the Blues from Liverpool for £50 million last January and has moved to praise the club's supporters
Fernando Torres has thanked the Chelsea fans for their support during his difficult start at the club and has insisted that he is finding the back of the net for them.
The Spanish striker is only just starting to show glimpses of the form which compelled Roman Abramovich to splash out £50 million for his services after netting twice in his last two games, and he is looking to pay the club's supporters back with some good form.
Torres told Chelsea TV: "Obviously, when you are doing great, scoring goals from the first day and doing good performances, it's easy for the fans to love and support you.
"But the first six months for me at Chelsea have been very, very difficult and I have been struggling, and I have always had the support of the fans.
"From the first day till now, every time I talk with them on the street, the cafe, everywhere, I can feel the support they are giving me so it is nice to start scoring for them."
Torres was dismissed against Swansea after his goal because of a dangerous tackle on midfielder Mark Gower, but he insists there was no malice in the challenge.
"Obviously, I didn't want to do anything bad against the other player," Torres explained.
"I tried to take away my legs, but I arrived late to the ball and I kicked him a little bit.
"It's a pity and I'm really disappointed for that.
"It is the first time I have received a red card in the Premier League and I hope it is the last one.
"It was really disappointing, especially because the team had to play with 10 men for a long time."
The dismissal leads to an automatic three-match suspension in domestic competitions but the Spaniard is still eligible to face Valencia in the Champions League; a clash which the former Liverpool man expects to be difficult.
He said: "They are a great team and we know that they are ready for us. It's going to be very, very tough."