Exclusive - Gray: 'If Torres had played like Drogba he would be getting battered'

Andy Gray believes critics of Fernando Torres would be having a field day had he played as poorly as Didier Drogba during the Blues’ 3-1 Champions League loss to Napoli.

The Ivorian was given the armband for Tuesday night’s last-16 first leg but failed to make any impact on the match and cut a forlorn figure up front in Naples.

Former Liverpool striker Torres has struggled since his move to Stamford Bridge and has been the focus of much criticism this term for his poor goalscoring record.

The 27-year-old was an unused sub during the defeat in Italy and Gray, who was co-commentating on the match for talkSPORT, claims if Torres had performed like Drogba he would have been castigated by certain areas of support.

“Drogba was given the armband in the team ahead of Torres to go and show everyone at Chelsea what he can do, it was a huge opportunity," Gray told talkSPORT.

“It’s alright standing in the tunnel during an FA Cup tie [against Birmingham] at Stamford Bridge and tubthumping to try to get people going.

“I’m afraid through that he didn’t [do that against Napoli though]. If that had been Fernando Torres who had given that sort of performance he would be getting battered now.”