Fernando Torres's prayers were answered as he scored his first Champions League goals for Chelsea in a thrashing of Genk.
The Spain striker, who was pictured before the game joining Brazilian team-mate David Luiz in apparent meditation, scored twice as Andre Villas-Boas’ team brushed aside their Belgian opponents to spark songs of praise at Stamford Bridge.
Contented manager Villas-Boas believes he now has Europe’s top strikeforce, declaring: ‘We are able to choose from the best up front. The choice fell with Torres and he responded pretty well.’
Torres had not scored in 875 minutes in the competition since netting for Liverpool against Chelsea more than two years ago.
Raul Meireles, Branislav Ivanovic and Salomon Kalou scored Chelsea’s other goals as Villas-Boas’ side continued their unbeaten start and equalled their biggest home win in the competition.
The Chelsea manager admitted he is spoilt for choice with Torres, Didier Drogba, Nicolas Anelka, Daniel Sturridge and Romelu Lukaku to pick from.
‘I’m pretty pleased with the way the team played,’ said the Portuguese coach, who was able to select Torres for the first time since the striker’s sending-off against Swansea three weeks ago.
‘It would have been a long period off (if Torres hadn’t played). It’s important players feel confident.
Villas-Boas, who has seen his side score 13 times in their last three matches, was happy to come through a match that he feels could have been a potential banana skin.
'To score two goals in the first 15 minutes, this put us in a very comfortable position," he said.
"It was a good display from everybody. I'm very happy with the performance, not only the way we played but the commitment of the team.
"This was a game that everyone expected us to win, and that's when surprises lie just round the corner. But we had the focus and put in a good performance.'
Another three points in Belgium next month would all but guarantee the club's qualification, but Villas-Boas is not getting carried away with talk of his team challenging for the Champions League trophy that Blues owner Roman Abramovich craves.
He said: 'With seven points, we go to Genk and the three over there would put us in a good position to qualify but this group could become very tight depending on what happens in Leverkusen with Valencia.
'The most important months for us will be the last three of the season, when you finally win or don't win trophies.
'For now, we're just aiming at our objectives. We want the best results as possible to get qualification through, and keep on track for going as far as we can in the competition.'
Genk boss Mario Been admitted Chelsea were a class apart from what his team could offer.
'They were on totally another level,' Been said.
'We gave them the goals too easily. We needed to keep a clean sheet for the first 20 minutes, but we were two down after 10 minutes.'
Meanwhile, goalkeeper Petr Cech hailed Chelsea's 'brilliant mentality'.
Cech told Sky Sports: 'We were very good, we put them under pressure, created chances and converted them clinically.
The Spain striker, who was pictured before the game joining Brazilian team-mate David Luiz in apparent meditation, scored twice as Andre Villas-Boas’ team brushed aside their Belgian opponents to spark songs of praise at Stamford Bridge.
Contented manager Villas-Boas believes he now has Europe’s top strikeforce, declaring: ‘We are able to choose from the best up front. The choice fell with Torres and he responded pretty well.’
Blessed: Fernando Torres and David Luiz before Chelsea's win
Raul Meireles, Branislav Ivanovic and Salomon Kalou scored Chelsea’s other goals as Villas-Boas’ side continued their unbeaten start and equalled their biggest home win in the competition.
The Chelsea manager admitted he is spoilt for choice with Torres, Didier Drogba, Nicolas Anelka, Daniel Sturridge and Romelu Lukaku to pick from.
‘I’m pretty pleased with the way the team played,’ said the Portuguese coach, who was able to select Torres for the first time since the striker’s sending-off against Swansea three weeks ago.
‘It would have been a long period off (if Torres hadn’t played). It’s important players feel confident.
Villas-Boas, who has seen his side score 13 times in their last three matches, was happy to come through a match that he feels could have been a potential banana skin.
'To score two goals in the first 15 minutes, this put us in a very comfortable position," he said.
"It was a good display from everybody. I'm very happy with the performance, not only the way we played but the commitment of the team.
"This was a game that everyone expected us to win, and that's when surprises lie just round the corner. But we had the focus and put in a good performance.'
Another three points in Belgium next month would all but guarantee the club's qualification, but Villas-Boas is not getting carried away with talk of his team challenging for the Champions League trophy that Blues owner Roman Abramovich craves.
He said: 'With seven points, we go to Genk and the three over there would put us in a good position to qualify but this group could become very tight depending on what happens in Leverkusen with Valencia.
Doubling up: Torres (left) heads home his second goal at Stamford Bridge
'For now, we're just aiming at our objectives. We want the best results as possible to get qualification through, and keep on track for going as far as we can in the competition.'
Genk boss Mario Been admitted Chelsea were a class apart from what his team could offer.
'They were on totally another level,' Been said.
'We gave them the goals too easily. We needed to keep a clean sheet for the first 20 minutes, but we were two down after 10 minutes.'
Meanwhile, goalkeeper Petr Cech hailed Chelsea's 'brilliant mentality'.
Cech told Sky Sports: 'We were very good, we put them under pressure, created chances and converted them clinically.
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