Torres has scored just five times in 30 matches since joining the Blues from Liverpool, a statistic that is likely to be leapt upon by his former supporters when the Reds travel to Stamford Bridge on Sunday. But Villas-Boas insisted Torres had improved since flopping on his February debut against the same opponents, and claimed his record of four goals from 12 Chelsea matches this season was perfectly adequate. "It's not bad," Villas-Boas said, denying suggestions the 27-year-old had gone off the boil again after netting four times in four games between September and October. "It's not just a question of numbers and goalscoring. It's about how you make your team perform around you." Indeed, Villas-Boas highlighted the number of assists Torres had provided since the Portuguese took over as manager this summer. "He's one of the best (with) assists at the club - four or five," he said. "He's assisting people and the team are getting wins out of it. "Sometimes we don't get all the wins we wanted, but we get the goalscoring opportunities for us to win games." Asked whether Torres was still a £50million player and if he would pay the same money for him today, Villas-Boas was unequivocal. "Of course," he said. Liverpool fans were furious when Torres quit Anfield and they took great delight at seeing him hauled off on his debut in Chelsea's 1-0 defeat at Stamford Bridge in February. The Spaniard will almost certainly be jeered by the travelling contingent in Sunday's Premier League clash between the sides. Villas-Boas said: "We cannot fight these things. "In any game, the opponents' supporters will like this one better or worse than another one. This is normal. "As long as it's within limits and not abusive or foul language." Torres said this week that Liverpool fans still did not know the truth about his move, suggesting the club had not been entirely honest over his departure. He also admitted he had enjoyed his best days at Anfield, something Villas-Boas did not dispute. He said: "Fernando's best moments in terms of goalscoring were the Liverpool days. "That does not mean those days won't arrive in this club and that does not mean that at the moment he is not performing for the team, because he is." Villas-Boas might have been plotting against Torres this weekend if reports linking him with the Liverpool job earlier this year are to be believed. The 34-year-old was reportedly being considered for the post while still in charge of Porto, but he insisted on Friday "there was no contact whatsoever". Had he moved to Anfield, he would also have been managing the man to replace Torres in the affections of the Liverpool faithful, Luis Suarez. Unlike Torres, the Uruguayan took no time at all to settle at his new club and is now arguably loved by Reds fans more than his former team-mate ever was. Despite the Football Association racism charge hanging over the Suarez, Villas-Boas could see the attraction. "Luis is a fantastic player," he said. "His adaptation to Liverpool was quick. He has the versatility to play with another striker up front, or alone, and the problems he creates... "He has a lot to offer to Liverpool and he's showing exactly that."
