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Football: Torres turns sights to Danish debutants

Dunya News

I've been resting last season too many games, so I'm fresh now, said the 28-year-old.

Chelsea striker Fernando Torres says there is no need for him to be rested for the European champions trip to Champions League newcomers FC Nordsjaelland on Tuesday.The Spain international scored the opening goal as Chelsea won 2-1 at London rivals Arsenal on Saturday to galvanise their grip on top spot in the Premier League.With injuries having restricted Daniel Sturridge to just four substitute appearances this season and Didier Drogba having left the club in the summer, Torres has had to shoulder the goalscoring burden alone.The former Liverpool man is the only player to have started every one of the clubs games this season, but he told Chelsea TV that he has enough gas in the tank for the trip to Denmark.Ive been resting last season too many games, so Im fresh now, said the 28-year-old, who has scored five goals in 10 appearances this season.Im feeling good and now we have a very important game against a great team. Its an important game for us in the Champions League because we didnt start with the three points.Chelsea began their Group E campaign with a 2-2 draw at home to Italian champions Juventus, a game in which Brazilian starlet Oscar announced his arrival at Stamford Bridge with a brace of long-range goals.The London club, who are bidding to become the first side to successfully defend a Champions League title, will expect to take all three points from Tuesdays game.However, they failed to win any of their away games in the group phase last season and coach Roberto Di Matteo knows that their opponents will be extremely motivated.It is their first home game in the Champions League and any away game is difficult, the Italian said. Ideally now, we need to win.Sturridge has missed Chelseas last four games with a hamstring problem but if judged fit, he could come into the starting XI at the expense of Torres.Di Matteo must also decide whether or not to field John Terry, who is available for selection again after serving a two-match European suspension for the red card he received against Barcelona in last seasons semi-final.The Chelsea captain is playing under the shadow of a four-game domestic ban after being found guilty of using racist language towards QPRs Anton Ferdinand in a game last season.He came through Saturdays match at Arsenal unscathed, but with the appeal against his ban still to be heard, Di Matteo could decide that the 31-year-old would benefit from a spell out of the spotlight.Terrys centre-back partner David Luiz sustained a knock against Arsenal that forced him off in the 81st minute, but Di Matteo can also call on Gary Cahill and, if needed, Branislav Ivanovic in the heart of defence.Nordsjaelland could hardly have asked for more high-profile opponents in what will be their first ever home game in the competition.The modest team from the small town of Farum in eastern Denmark were only formed in 1991 and won the first league title in their history after a 3-0 victory over AC Horsens on the final day of last season.The clubs stadium, Farum Park, has a seated capacity of just 9,800, so their home games in the Champions League are taking place at the 38,000-seater Parken stadium in Copenhagen.Nordsjaelland opened their Champions League account with a 2-0 loss at Shakhtar Donetsk two weeks ago, but coach Kasper Hjulmand praised his players for their courage and said they were on the right track.Hjulmands side has a strong accent on youth and boasts a 21-year-old winger with a familiar surname in the shape of Andreas Laudrup, who is the son of former Denmark great and current Swansea City manager Michael Laudrup.