Rafael Benitez pleased with Chelsea response despite exit

Chelsea manager Rafael Benitez has insisted that his side can use their performance against Nordsjaelland as a platform to improve.

The Blues recorded a convincing 6-1 victory but the win could not prevent the holders crashing out of the Champions League at the first hurdle.

Benitez declared after earning his first win as Chelsea manager that his team delivered a performance he knew they were capable of.

He told Sky Sports News: "I was always sure about the quality of the players, the commitment of the players, today we could see their intensity.

"For me tonight was the confirmation of everything I was watching in the training sessions. The main thing with Fernando Torres is that if we create chances, he will score goals.

"I'm sure if we play at the level we did tonight, we can do whatever we want [this season]."

The Blues will drop into the Europa League in the New Year by virtue of their third-place finish in Group E.