Rafael Benitez has hailed Chelsea striker Fernando Torres as "amazing" - at defending corners.
Interim Blues boss Benitez attempted to deflect more criticism of Torres's wretched form in front of goal.
"It's not just scoring goals," Benitez said, discussing his fellow Spaniard's latest performance at West Ham. "We changed his position in corners, for example. If you analyse the corners against, he was amazing. Two or three times he's cleared the ball and afterwards was just doing man to man because it's what he had to do."
The Chelsea boss went on: "So, he's helping the team, in this case to defend. As a striker, you like him to score goals. Winning is the main thing. Fernando will be an important player for us, is an important player for us."
He added: "We had a training session with finishing and Fernando scored a lot of goals.
"I think he has more confidence and his team-mates know that he's trying very hard and that is the main thing for me."
There are suggestions Torres's days at Stamford Bridge could be numbered but the former Liverpool star has insisted he wants to stay. Juan Mata also defended his team-mate and fellow Spaniard.
"Of course we want to score more," he said.
"If you want to win, you have to score. But not only the strikers score.
"The midfielders and defenders from set-pieces need to score."
Interim Blues boss Benitez attempted to deflect more criticism of Torres's wretched form in front of goal.
"It's not just scoring goals," Benitez said, discussing his fellow Spaniard's latest performance at West Ham. "We changed his position in corners, for example. If you analyse the corners against, he was amazing. Two or three times he's cleared the ball and afterwards was just doing man to man because it's what he had to do."
The Chelsea boss went on: "So, he's helping the team, in this case to defend. As a striker, you like him to score goals. Winning is the main thing. Fernando will be an important player for us, is an important player for us."
He added: "We had a training session with finishing and Fernando scored a lot of goals.
"I think he has more confidence and his team-mates know that he's trying very hard and that is the main thing for me."
There are suggestions Torres's days at Stamford Bridge could be numbered but the former Liverpool star has insisted he wants to stay. Juan Mata also defended his team-mate and fellow Spaniard.
"Of course we want to score more," he said.
"If you want to win, you have to score. But not only the strikers score.
"The midfielders and defenders from set-pieces need to score."
