Joe Cole was delighted to net twice for Chelsea in yesterday’s 7-0 victory over Chengdu Blades.

"We played well tonight, it was a good game to play because you don't want to go straight into the Arsenals and Manchester Uniteds of the world," the midfielder told Chelsea's website.

"We were clinical and finished our chances, maybe making it look a bit easier than it was. They [Chengdu Blades] worked very hard, and maybe the 7-0 flattered us a little bit. They had some good technical players but lacked a bit physically. Maybe we're playing at a higher standard but I'm sure if they had two or three years in Europe they would come up to that level."

It was Cole's first outing of the 2008/9 campaign after a couple of niggling injuries, and he is now desperate to reach peak fitness.

"I have had a couple of problems but these things are normal in pre-season,' he began. 'I am playing catch up because I missed the first two weeks, and just have to be patient now. It's a long season and I have given myself four or five weeks to get fit.

"We've got a good fitness coach and a good medical team. It's painful sometimes, especially in this heat, but I think all the lads enjoy [the hard work] really. You wouldn't be a footballer if you didn't enjoy that side of it."