The Spaniard recorded the first Barclays Premier League victory of his interim reign at Stamford Bridge yesterday when the Blues followed up their 6-1 Champions League demolition of Nordsjaelland with a 3-1 victory at Sunderland.

Perhaps significantly, Fernando Torres, who established himself as one of the top frontmen in the world under his compatriot during their time together at Liverpool, added two more goals to the double he claimed in midweek to announce his return to form.