Torres targeting European glory with Chelsea

Having won just about all the trophies you can at international level with Spain, Fernando Torres is now hoping to lift European club football's greatest prize − the UEFA Champions League − with Chelsea FC after joining the Blues in a British-record €57.5m transfer on Monday.

In his first interview as a Chelsea player, the 26-year-old forward – who scored the winner in the UEFA EURO 2008 final and raised the FIFA World Cup aloft last summer – stated his desire to help his new side become European champions. Torres said their regular presence in the latter stages of the competition, among others, was what convinced him to leave Anfield after three and a half seasons as Liverpool's frontline striker.

"The Champions League is a big ambition and all the footballers want to play in it, it is a very important competition," explained Torres, who is eligible for the London outfit's round of 16 tie with FC København which kicks on 22 February in Denmark. "Chelsea have the chance every season to win all the trophies they play for, so when you have the chance to play in a team like this you cannot say no."

Torres came close to reaching the showpiece in his first campaign in England, 2007/08, when he scored in the semi-final second leg at Stamford Bridge as Liverpool lost out to the Blues for a place in Moscow. That goal is one of seven the former Club Atlético de Madrid player managed in eight matches against his new employers. So often the scourge of the west Londoners, Torres − who struck 65 times in 102 league games for Liverpool − will now be cheered on by the supporters who once feared his presence on the Reds' team-sheet.

"I have good memories and bad memories of games against Chelsea," added Torres, who was one of two arrivals at Stamford Bridge on deadline day along with SL Benfica centre-back David Luiz for €25m. "All the goals are good memories because all of them are special. I have a very bad memory of the semi-final of the Champions League in my first season in England when they beat us and they played the final and not us. It was a frustrating day for me but hopefully now I am here we can go through to the final together and win."

By a strange quirk of fate, Torres could make his debut against Liverpool on Sunday at Stamford Bridge, having hit both goals in Liverpool's 2-0 win in the reverse fixture in November. "It is like destiny," he said. "I will never say anything bad about Liverpool, I have been very happy there, but now the history is different and I am playing for Chelsea. If I have the chance to play I will do my best for Chelsea and hopefully I can score."