FERNANDO TORRES was a towering two-goal hero as he put Champions League holders Chelsea in sight of a Euro double.
Interim Blues boss Rafa Benitez said: “I’m pleased for Fernando, not just for his goals but for his contribution to the team.
“We always talk about strikers needing to score goals for their confidence and you could see that with Fernando tonight.
“I never had any doubts about his work-rate or his movement. But you could see his touch was better after his first goal because of the confidence he had.
“People were saying he hadn’t scored since this day or that one but he has now scored 19 goals this season and I’m sure he will get more.
“He may have to play in that mask for the rest of the season — but maybe he can score with or without it.”
Yet Torres will almost certainly be back on the bench for Sunday’s home game against Sunderland, with Benitez admitting: “The problem is that Demba Ba cannot play in the Europa League so we have to manage both competitions.”
Torres struck either side of Victor Moses’ classy effort to leave Chelsea just 90 minutes away from the Europa League semi-finals.
Benitez’s only disappointment was Kazan’s away goal from the spot after John Terry handled just before the break.
The Spaniard said: “I’m happy with the result but not 100 per cent satisfied.
“We conceded a goal when we were in control of the game and that’s a shame.
“It was a harsh penalty. There is always frustration because you want the referee to get all the decisions right and sometimes they’re not. But that’s part of the game.”
Terry insisted: “I’m a bit disappointed with the penalty because we were cruising going into half-time.
“When someone has a shot from 10 yards away it’s difficult to get out of the way.”
