15 September,2011 09:47 AM IST | | PA Sport
Chelsea manager Andre Villas-Boas maintained there was no longer an issue with critical comments from striker Fernando Torres after the Spaniard helped his side record a 2-0 Champions League win over Bayer Leverkusen at Stamford Bridge.
Torres spoke to the official website of Spain's Primera Liga last week, with an English translation later appearing on the striker's personal website, where he was quoted as branding Chelsea's "older" players as "very slow", and hailing new team-mate Juan Mata - whom he set-up for Chelsea's second goal in stoppage time - as a necessary signing.
Bayer Leverkusen's Lars Bender (right) tackles Chelsea's Fernando Torres
during Tuesday's Champions League match in London. Chelsea won 2-0.
PIC/Getty Images
In the build-up to tonight's game, which was sparked to life by a fine second-half goal from Brazil defender David Luiz, Villas-Boas revealed he would warn Torres not to speak so candidly about the club in future if the translation did stand up.
Chelsea now consider the matter closed. "We had a chat and the situation is solved. The investigation is over," Villas-Boas said.
"You saw the player involved and he put in a good collective performance, like the team did.
"Hopefully these things won't arise in the group again. If they do, it will be the manager who has to resolve it."
Villa-Boas refused to confirm whether the misfiring Spain striker had done enough to play his way into the starting XI for Sunday's Premier League showdown at Manchester United. "I have to make a decision. We have another couple of days to train, and he will compete with the other four for that position. We have to take the best decision possible," the Chelsea boss said.
