Tonight’s Champions League game went as expected. Chelsea were much too good for Genk and easily won 5-0.
What impressed me tonight was the swagger and style that Chelsea played with. Fernando Torres looked like the player that Chelsea paid £50million for. His movement and passing was terrific and for once he looked like he was on the same wavelength as his colleagues. And Romeu showed why wanted him so badly as he was simply brilliant.
Torres, fed by Meireles’ delightful chip, should have put them in front with their first attack, instead rolling the ball against the post, but before the half-hour Chelsea were already three up, with Torres having scored twice.
It was Meireles, though, who put Chelsea on their way as he took a pass from Ashley Cole 30 yards from goal, took two touches and then found the bottom corner.
Then it was Torres time. The first after swift passing between Romeu, operating deep but always available, and Lampard gave him the chance to pick his spot from the edge of the box, the second a glorious header from Meireles’ right-wing cross.
Further chances were created, almost at will, before Ivanovic soared to power home Florent Malouda’s inswinging free-kick just before the interval and while Chelsea understandably took their foot of the gas, they still looked for more.
Malouda, who missed a sitter before the interval, squandered another chance after it, Lampard was denied a stone-wall penalty and for a while Chelsea were taking turns to test keeper Laszlo Koteles’ reactions from distance.
Eventually, inevitably, the fifth did come, although Torres missed out on his hat-trick. Jose Bosingwa, barely in his own half all night, scampered forward to deliver into the danger-zone and while Koteles did brilliant to thwart Torres, Kalou was handily in the right place to thrash home.
Best Chelsea performance of the season tonight. Simply terrific football. What did you think of the game?
