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AVB lauds Nando as Blues blast Genk

Comment: 0 October 20th, 2011 by: admin

FERNANDO Torres regained his scoring touch and Chelsea boss Andre Villas-Boas sang songs of praise for their team effort and individual performance.

“We were able to choose from the best. The choice fell to Fernando today and he performed very well,’’ said Villas-Boas, praising the Spaniard who netted two goals in the Blues’ 5-0 annihilation of Genk in the Champions League on Wednesday night.

The Portuguese mentor added Torres was able to find scoring positions this time, as he lauded the team for their collective feat, and then their individual effort as well.

Villas-Boas added it was never a question about finding the form for Torres, who had only one goal after 17 games for Chelsea last season.

“It is important for a player to feel confident and I think he is feeling confident in his abilities,’’ added the Portuguese, who prior to the meeting remained coy about his plans to insert Torres into his starting roster. “He’s been doing his work for the team but I think he’s always been in form.’’

Torres’ resurgence in the one-sided fixture was well received at Stamford Bridge as the Blues fortified their hold of Group E lead and matched their biggest Champions League victory – a similar 5-0 swamping of Galatasaray in Turkey 12 years ago.

The success over the group’s cellar dwellers kept the unbeaten Blues a point ahead of Bayer Leverkusen with seven points after three games. Another win in Belgium in two weeks’ time could ensure Chelsea a top-two finish with two games left on the card.

After Raul Meireles opened the scoring floodgates in the 8^th minute, Torres, currently in the middle of a three-match domestic suspension, struck with nicely-taken goals in the 11^th and 27^th to double his output in all competitions this season.

Branislav Ivanovic made it 4-0 in the 42^nd with a brilliant header, while Salomon Kalou joined the scoring rampage by adding the fifth in the 72^nd following an assist from Torres himself.

Genk coach Mario Been said there’s no shame in losing to Chelsea because “they have too much quality and play at a different level from where we are.’’

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