Chelsea striker Fernando Torres insists the players are serious about winning the Club World Cup.

Torres defended the significance of the tournament, which is dismissed by many as a FIFA jolly and money-making exercise.

The 28-year-old told Chelsea's official website: "How many people don't take this tournament seriously, or don't think it is like the real World Cup?. It is for the clubs. You ask the South American people. David Luiz showed me a video of Corinthians fans at the airport, it was full of fans cheering the team and travelling to Japan to support, so it is important.

"In Europe maybe we don't give it as much attention, and to some people it might not mean much, but to me it does, so this is not a holiday or a break, this is a World Cup. It's nice to be involved, and maybe to be able to say you are a world champion. The European Super Cup was just as important to us and we lost, so we don't want that disappointment."