Benitez says Chelsea midfielders should create more chances for Torres

Chelsea interim manager Rafael Benitez has defended Fernando Torres' goalless streak, and added that the midfielders need to create more chances for the Spanish striker to score.

The struggling 50 million pound forward missed the home team's best chance of the day against Manchester City on Sunday during their drab 0-0 draw at Stamford Bridge, and once more he looked a pitiful shadow of the player who scored for fun under Benitez at Liverpool.

"You could see he was trying very hard. He had a good chance. But I think the team has to help Fernando and create more chances, and he will score goals," the Sun quoted Benitez, as saying.

Fernando Torres. Pic/ AFP

"You cannot expect a striker to score on his own, so we have to create more and better chances for him with the players we have. I'm not really trying to build a team round him," he added.

"Fernando is the striker at the moment so if we're creating, we're creating for him. If it's Sturridge or Moses, we'll do it for them. We have to create a way to play, a way to attack and defend for the team," he said.

Benitez added: "If you have more quality you can win more games, take the chances, but the style and mentality has to be the same."