Sport
Drogba: Will he stay or will he go?
“Didier’s importance is straightforward, it’s not just because he is performing now. The conversation has been on-going since the beginning and we’ll continue to push for that.
“It’s not up to me to speak about what is in Didier’s mind at the moment regarding his future.
“What I think is clear is that he is pretty much involved with Chelsea and his mindset is on competing with his colleagues for this club. That’s the most gratifying thing, the commitment from the player. His professionalism is not in question.”
Chelsea’s season has been revived in the last two weeks with victory over Valencia securing a place in the last 16 of the Champions League before the 2-1 win over Manchester City left Villas-Boas’s side just seven points off the pace in the Premier League.
Torres, though, has been forced to watch from the substitutes’ bench, triggering reports the Spaniard might be offloaded for a cut-price £20 million (US$ 31 million), just 12 months after he arrived from Liverpool in a £50 million (US$ 78 million) record deal.
Villas-Boas remains adamant the Spain international is not for sale, however. “It’s not true. I’m sorry,” he said. “He is not available at any price, for sure.”
Victory at the DW Stadium will reduce the gap on leaders Manchester City to just four points with Roberto Mancini’s side due to face Arsenal the following day.
