Chelsea boss Rafa Benitez was delighted with Fernando Torres' performance in their 3-1 Europa League win over Steaua Bucharest. Torres scored the crucial third goal as last season's Champions League winners advanced to the Europa League quarter-finals with a 3-1 win on the night and 3-2 aggregate success over the Romanian league leaders.
The Spaniard had the opportunity for a second goal and Chelsea's fourth after earlier goals from Juan Mata and recalled captain John Terry, but his spot-kick struck the crossbar.
Rather than bemoan the miss, Benitez was pleased his compatriot, and former player at Liverpool, was prepared to assume penalty duties.
"He has confidence now and he can take the responsibility," said Benitez, who revealed Torres was one of three possible penalty takers.
"We are quite pleased because he was taking the responsibility.
"It's good. He scored and after he had more confidence and that is positive for the team and positive for him for the future."
Torres' strike was his second goal in 20 games - the effort at Middlesbrough which ricocheted in off his back was belatedly credited to Ramires - and his reward was a nosebleed sustained soon afterwards.
"It (the goal) was important for him," Benitez added. "It was important - the main thing - for the team. We knew he was working really hard, he was training really well.
"Two days ago he was scoring a lot of goals in training. We knew he was close.
"Hopefully it will be the first of a lot."
