A Fernando Torres double inspired Chelsea to a crucial 3-0 win away to German giant Schalke in UEFA Champions League Group E play on Tuesday. After the game, Blues coachJose Mourinho lauded the Spanish international’s work rate and attitude, while also noting that the win left his team in a great position to qualify for the Round of 16 infirst-place.
“Torres is a hard worker and that is a surprise to me. He is not the kind of player that hides behind his statues or the fee Chelsea paid for him. No, he is a hard working boy,”Mourinho said. “Even when he is not performing very well like has sometimes happened since he arrived atChelsea, he always kept his professionalism. He has always been positive, sometimes scoring goals, but always giving his best.”
Torres’ brace and Eden Hazard’slate third left Chelsea at the top of Group E with six points from three games. Schalke also has six points, but the Blues have a better goal differential. FC Basel, which beat Chelsea 2-1 at StamfordBridge on Matchday 1, is third with four points, after only managing a 1-1 draw with Steaua Bucharest.
“After that first game we were last and now we are top of the group,” Mourinho said.”Because of my experience I was not in hell after the first game and I’m not in heaven today. I’m calm but I know we have two matches at home to come and, normally, we are going to get enough pointsto qualify. After six points we can think first to qualify and then, after that, maybe also about finishing first in the group.” Most importantly, he added, “Torres’s goals will boost theteam, for sure.”