Fernando Torres was being questioned on Monday by Chelsea over an interview in which he appeared to criticise his own team-mates.

The centre-forward spoke to the official website of the Spanish league last week, with an English translation later appearing on the player's personal website. Torres, who has endured a dreadful run in front of goal since his £50m transfer from Liverpool, was quoted as criticising Chelsea's "older" players as "very slow", and describing his new team-mate Juan Mata as a necessary signing.

André Villas-Boas, the Chelsea manager, sought an explanation from Torres, who claimed his words were not translated accurately on his own website. Chelsea are trying to obtain a copy of the interview in its original Spanish and Villas-Boas revealed he would warn Torres not to speak so candidly about the club in future if the translation did stand up.

"We are going in-depth to regain the tape of that interview," Villas-Boas said. "We'll see if things play exactly as they are in that interview."

Torres's website also carries the Spanish version of the interview in which he says the type of player Chelsea have "juega muy lento", literally "play very slowly".

The interview was authorised by Chelsea, otherwise Torres would have been facing a fine. But when asked what action would be taken if the translation proved accurate, the Blues manager said: "We'd just talk. Just talk. To share opinion. If it was unauthorised, I'd fine him. Of course. Anyhow, it's one player's perspective.

"I don't think it's a perspective that the manager shares. I don't have to share my players' ideas sometimes. I think we have competence, apart from the 'age problem', which for me is not a problem. Maybe we just have to speak about that situation and he has to see our view as well."

Torres's struggles show no sign of abating – the 27-year-old lost his place in the side for Saturday's win at Sunderland, having failed even to make the bench for Spain's European Championship qualifier against Liechtenstein.

Villas-Boas did not offer Torres an explanation, having admitted 48 hours earlier that he would not hesitate to drop the striker if it benefited the team.

"I just made the changes," said Villas-Boas on Monday as he decided whether to recall Torres for tomorrow's Champions League opener against Bayer Leverkusen.

"I think any player who's not part of the squad or the selected players is not happy. I'm glad because maybe you can stimulate them to go one step further, or motivate them a bit more."