Torres turns Chelsea’s Mata, Oscar, Hazard strength into weakness

Chelsea are paying the price for a die-hard belief in Fernando Torres.

The result is what should be a powerhouse trio – Juan Mata, Oscar and Eden Hazard – is turning in to an overworked, over-tried, all or nothing option.

The inability to get Torres to score (or anyone else for that matter) with enough of regularity means without their three musketeers Mata, Hazard and Oscar, Chelsea are nothing.

And when we say those three, we mean all three have to play. Two are not enough.

In the League Cup clash Chelsea were only able to overhaul United 5-4 after extra time, after all three were on.

Yesterday in the 1-1 draw to Swansea, surrendering their lead at the top of the table, Chelsea did not have Mata – injured due to workload, if nothing else – and did not win.

The bottom line is Chelsea can certainly do without a certain Torres. But they cannot without their trio.

Teams will know this and will be waiting – from Europe to Leeds.

After all, even the magical trio are human.

Chelsea face the ignominy of being the defending Champions League holders not to make it out of the group phase and now losing league lead as well.

Torres does everything except score.

Nobody else is really up to scratch on their own. Not John Obi Mikel or Ramires, or even Frank Lampard.

Mata, Hazard and Oscar have to do everything and score.

That is just too much now.