AS.com

Rafael Benitez is certain that Chelsea fans will fall back in love with Spanish striker Fernando Torres - as soon as he starts to find the net again.

Torres has not scored for the Blues since 23 December and came in for criticism from supporters after his lacklustre performance against Swansea on Wednesday in the Capital One Cup semi-final first leg, which Chelsea lost 0-2.

The Chelsea manager revealed that Torres was playing with a stomach bug, which may explain why he did not start Chelsea's away game with Stoke on Saturday.

"Fernando had a stomach bug and Demba Ba had a niggle. The club doctor was giving Fernando tablets, but I told him he had to play," said Benítez before Chelsea's game with Stoke on Saturday.

"Fernando is playing with this problem - a professional trying to do his best in a difficult situation. I'm really pleased with the attitude of Fernando. He has been training and playing because the team needed him."

And the Spaniard believes his compatriot will return to form - and the score sheet - soon, and Chelsea fans will forgive him.

"If he scores goals again it will be easier," he insisted.

"The fans loved Torres when he was scoring and giving everything. They will love him again when he starts scoring goals again. They will appreciate the effort.

"The main thing a player can do is to concentrate on his job and Fernando is really, really trying.

"He is trying to give his best. In training every day he is giving 100% every session. Because the club paid big money, everybody is expecting a relation between money and goals to be easy."