I think we all can agree that it's a bit too late to do a recap. Lamb to the slaughter it was and all.
What we can do is drop five things we learned from watching the destruction. After the jump - and the epic screencap of Toretto and O'Conner - you can check my Fast Five, compiled after watching the match a second time. Bomb.
Fernando Torres is not back
Not yet, at least.
Don't get me wrong, the Spaniard cut an inspired figure against Genk. He should have - and probably deserved - a hat trick on the night. But I still think the man still has some way to go before we all can anoint him the Nando of old, no matter how much we want to go ahead and make that statement.
I sort of remember Andriy Shevchenko doing something similar during the 2006-07 season, with a couple of excellent displays in the Champions League - his game in Valencia overshadowed by one Michael Essien - raising belief that the man was back to his European heyday. As we all know, that was unfortunately not the case.
So, while I continue to be impressed by the progress made by our No. 9, I will be reserving judgement on his renaissance until the new year. I recommend that, while we all should enjoy what we're seeing from the great striker, we all do the same.
David Luiz has a gift
And a curse.
The man blessed with the hands that bless is equal parts electric and terrifying. Where would blogs like this one be without Bob? Wednesday's match was a perfect example of why Luiz is both an integral part of the Chelsea dynamic under Andre Villas-Boas, he's also one of the most frustrating players known to man.
His ability is unquestioned. Neither is his confidence. Few, if any, central defenders in world football possess the on-the-ball ability Luiz has in his arsenal. How many wonderful passes has he played from the back this season, already? His quickness and fearlessness are game-changers. Then there is his carelessness and that bemusing ability to throw out all rationale. How many rash challenges did he make inside 15 minutes?
All that being said, I wouldn't trade him for anyone in the world. It's this wildness that makes him as a player. What we can hope, however, is that in the future he develops a more mature sense of when to bless the world with his craziness.
And, yeah, keep touching your teammates, Bob.
Kevin de Bruyne looked the part
Mostly.
Poor guy. We all know he was intent on making an impression Wednesday, yet was unable to fully show his promise thanks to a lethal Chelsea and teammates who just aren't in his class. Still, the 20-year-old Belgian was able to display some of his significant ability on the night.
The first thing I noticed was his peach of a left foot. If not for a couple of excellent interceptions and a handful of poor decisions from teammates, de Bruyne would have left Stamford Bridge with an assist or two. He really can play a pass.
He also seems to possess a decent amount of technical ability. There was a moment in the second half where he found himself alone with Bosingwa in the left corner. Though neither came off, De Bruyne pulled out two tricks in an attempt to round the fullback. The second nearly worked, but he ran out of space on the byline. One has to applaud both the effort and the confidence required to attempt such moves.
It's clear de Bruyne is not quite ready for Chelsea, but, on Wednesday's evidence, I can understand why the club is taking at look at him.
Holding on to Oriol Romeu may be difficult
Shit.
Here's to hoping Pep and company didn't tune in or catch a replay of Romeu's work against the Belgians. A remote chance, sure. The young Spaniard was indeed phenomenal, showing off a rare game that combines steel and panache. There were many silky passes. There were quality challenges, too, such as one of the meaty variety at midfield during the second half that made me jump from my seat in approval. Sure, it was a foul but the guy it was on - I doubt he came near Romeu the rest of the evening.
Of course the opposition was questionable. But, again, you can only play who is put in front of you. Plus, this is the Champions League. A 20-year-old dominating the middle of the park in this competition is an accomplishment, no matter the opposition.
Check the statistics: 89 of 92 passes completes (96.7 percent), five tackles and five pass interceptions; 18 of 18 passes completed in the attacking third.
Sensational stuff. Now, to convince this young man to hang around the Bridge for more than a year. Cue Xavi and the rest of Catalonia bemoaning Oriol's "suffering" in London.
Nicolas Anelka is still a fine footballer
And, contrary to popular belief, a consummate professional.
The most glaring aspect revealed during both of my viewings of Wednesday's match was the performance of our veteran French striker. He was, in a word, excellent.
Anelka is a player who, this season, is hardly mentioned. He's among that aging crop that appears to be on the fringes at Chelsea as the Villas-Boas revolution begins to twist its screw. Anelka has also admitted that he won't be resigning with the club after his contract expires in the summer. On this evidence, that's sort of a shame.
The Frenchman was understated but effective. Cool, but incisive. He is a wonderful player to have in reserve as we push on in four competitions. There are those of us who condemn the man for slowing down play - I've been among that camp before - but here his composed approach was in fact killer.
All one needs to look at is his role in the buildup to our fifth goal. Anelka, near the right edge of the penalty box, manage to occupy five Genk players. Yes, five. He swiveled on his left foot before pulling the ball back onto his right. Successfully drawing just about every Genk player who was roaming around the box, Anelka then easily laid off the ball to Jose Bosingwa in acres of space down the right. Bos, in turn, played an excellent low ball across the six that first saw Fernando Torres' shot saved and, second, Salomon Kalou's mop-up goal. Everyone else involved in the goal will get the plaudits, but it was Anelka who set it all in motion.
Le Sulk has a pivotal role to play this season, my friends.