Fernando Torres' debut for Chelsea did not go as he hoped, but just as any cynic would have predicted. He played 66 quiet minutes on Sunday against the club he left bitter and heartbroken earlier in the week before being subbed off for Salomon Kalou. A short time later, Raul Meireles scored the match's only goal to give Liverpool a 1-0 win at Stamford Bridge.
After the match, Chelsea manager Carlo Ancelotti said of Torres' debut (via the AFP):
"Torres did a good job but we had difficulty to find space because Liverpool defended very well. They put three defenders in the middle and we couldn't attack them," Ancelotti said.
"Fernando tried to do something, he had good movement and did a good job.
"I took him out because it was a very busy week. I don't think it was a mistake (to start him) because he played a good game.
"He has experience and confidence. He didn't show problems or nerves before the game. He was excited to play. We have to give him time to adjust to the shape. He will do it quickly."
But saying that, or commending Liverpool manager Kenny Dalglish for his astute defensive tactics or criticizing the uninspired play of the rest of the Chelsea team as they adjusted to their new diamond formation isn't nearly as fun as breaking out the hyperbole to pile on the guy who is already making his £50 million transfer fee back in the form of sweet, sweet merchandising. So, in the interest of perspective, here are three pricey (for their not-too-distant time) transfer who made far worse debuts than Fernando Torres...
Jose Antonio Reyes -- After costing Arsenal £17 million in the January 2004 transfer window, Reyes marred his first start for the club with an own goal against Middlesbrough in a League Cup match. Though he would go on to score five goals in the second half of Arsenal's undefeated season, he ended up going back to Spain on loan to Real Madrid (before a permanent move to Atletico Madrid) just two years later because he claimed to feel homesick.
Jonathan Woodgate -- Speaking of Real Madrid, injury collector Jonathan Woodgate signed for them in August 2004 for £13.4 million. Because of his Hargreaves-like ability to get hurt, he didn't make his debut for Real until September 2005 in a league match against Athletic Bilbao. In the first half, he scored an own goal and was shown a yellow card before eventually getting sent off in the 65th minute. He made just 12 appearances for Real before being sold to Middlesbrough in 2007. He was voted the "worst signing of the 21st century" by readers of Marca the same year.
Rio Ferdinand -- Life is all tweets, merks and England armbands for Rio nowadays, but back in the year 2000, he joined Leeds for a British transfer record £18 million, making him the world's most expensive defender. Serenaded with chants of "what a waste of money," Rio quickly found his new side down 3-0 to Leicester City in the first half. Though the goals weren't nearly as much Rio's fault as they were his backline partners' (which included the aforementioned Jonathan Woodgate), the 3-1 result was hardly what was expected of a team that would finish 4th that season (Leeds) against a side that would finish 13th (Leicester).
Of course, this is just a sampling and with just a little thought you could probably come up with a few more who did worse than a man who was off his best form even before his move to London and wasn't even on the pitch when his former club scored their winning goal. Or you can ignore all that and declare his the "WORST DEBUT EVAR!!!!11!!1!" Whatever floats your boat.
Photo: Getty Images
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