Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho says Samuel Eto’o is his best striker for home games but has revealed the Cameroonian is not suited to playing away from Stamford Bridge.
Eto’o, 32, has not scored in eight games since netting a hat-trick against Manchester United on 19 January and has netted just six goals in 17 Premier League appearances this term, all of which have come at home.
Mourinho dropped the former Inter Milan and Barcelona forward for Saturday’s 3-1 win at Fulham in favour of Spaniard Fernando Torres.
The Portuguese, who also has Demba Ba to choose from, revealed he picked Torres because he is better suited to playing away.
“I just felt this kind of match, away from home, against normally closed defensive teams, aggressive defenders, central defenders, Hangeland, I thought to go with Nando (Torres).
“And if I need to risk in this last part of the game to together with Nando and Demba (Ba). Players more adapted to this reality.
“You see Eto’o scores goals, but at home. He scores in the league, in the Champions League but all of them at home.
“I think away is more difficult for him. I think he is our best striker to play at home because of his technique, his movement and his understanding with Eden and Oscar.
“For me, he is he best to play at home. Away he is showing some difficulties so we made that decision to start with Fernando and have Demba for the last part of the game.”
Andre Schurrle scored all three goals at Craven Cottage but asked if the German could play as a number nine, Mourinho was dismissive.
“He’s not a striker,” said the Blues boss. “He is a cold blood.
“The kind of guy who, normally in front of the keeper, he is cold. He has a good finishing technique.”
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