Boss hails duo after Chelsea triumph

Chelsea manager Roberto Di Matteo heaped praise on Spanish duo Juan Mata and Fernando Torres after Chelsea’s impressive 2-1 win over Arsenal at the Emirates Stadium.

Mata shone throughout, teeing up the first goal for Torres and scoring the second with a fine free-kick after the interval.

Di Matteo said: “Mata seems to be back in very good shape after the break we gave him.

“Since he came back he has looked very good. He played in the Euros and then went to the Olympics and if we didn’t give him a break then it would have had an effect.

“Fernando Torres was excellent. He scored a great and important goal but his all-around game was excellent. He is a team player. He worked hard, chased defenders and was always a threat.”

Di Matteo selected John Terry less than 48 hours after the Blues skipper was fined and banned by the Football Association for racially abusing Anton Ferdinand.

He said: “I think it was the right choice to play him. He showed his leadership qualities and what a good defender he is.

“There is always a lot of talk about his negative side but he does a lot of positive things as well.”

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