When Chelsea fans think of Fernando Torres, it is likely they will think of one specific Champions League moment.
Hanging on by a thread at the Nou Camp, Chelsea had defended valiantly against Pep Guardiola’s star-studded Barcelona side in the 2012 Champions League semi-final.
Down to 10 men after John Terry’s sending-off, The Blues trailed 2-1 on the night, enough to advance to the final thanks to the old away-goals rule and Didier Drogba’s first-leg winner.
Barcelona and Lionel Messi were banging on the door though, until Torres found himself through on goal on the halfway line, before calmly dribbling past Victor Valdes to send Chelsea to the final in Munich.
It might have appeared lucky for the Spaniard, having just lost the ball but Torres recalls the moment differently.
Fernando Torres explains his famous Nou Camp goal
Spaniard Torres, who had previously struggled since joining from Premier League rivals Liverpool, revealed his awareness that he was left unmarked on the 13th anniversary of the goal.
In an interview with Chelsea TV, Torres said: “I just keep running because we were dead.
“I see Ashley Cole with the ball and I was sure he wanted to kick the ball as long as possible.
“I look at my back and there are no defenders there, I thought, if he kicks the ball in that direction, I am one against one with Valdes.
“I know Victor, I know the way he likes to defend these situations and he was too high, the first thought I have is chip the ball because he was too high, but I saw I had time to dribble and what a great feeling.”
The goal sparked mass celebrations among the players and interim manager Roberto Di Matteo as The Blues secured their spot to play Bayern Munich in the final.
Torres came on in the final as an 84th-minute replacement for Salomon Kalou but did not take a penalty in the subsequent shootout, with Drogba slotting home the decisive spot kick.
Nevertheless though, Torres’ historic goal at the death of the semi-final was without a doubt vital to Chelsea’s first Champions League triumph.
What happened in the rest of Fernando Torres’ Chelsea career?
The following season, Torres was a key player under Di Matteo and then fellow Spaniard Rafa Benitez.
The striker went on to play 36 matches in the Premier League, scoring eight goals but again it was in Europe where Torres really thrived.
He scored nine goals in 16 European games for Chelsea in the 2012/13 season, including six goals in nine appearances in the Europa League and a goal in the final against Benfica, which the Blues won to seal back-to-back European titles.
| Competition | Matches | Goals |
| Premier League | 36 | 8 |
| Champions League | 6 | 3 |
| Europa League | 9 | 6 |
| FA Cup | 5 | 1 |
| League Cup | 4 | 2 |
Jose Mourinho was then appointed Chelsea’s boss for the 2013/14 season, which saw Torres become surplus to requirements.
The Spanish forward then went on loans to AC Milan and Atletico Madrid before signing with the Madrid side permanently in 2016.
Having retired from playing football in 2019, the World Cup winner took up coaching and is now the manager of Atletico Madrid B.
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