Jose Mourinho says Samuel Eto'o is his best striker – but that the Cameroonian cannot hack it away from Stamford Bridge.

Blues made the short trip to Craven Cottage on Saturday, and Eto'o was left at home.

That meant Fernando Torres starting the match, though it was wide man Andre Schurrle who put in the most impressive performance up-front as Chelsea ran out 3-1 winners.

Mourinho said: “I just felt this kind of match, away from home, against normally closed defensive teams, aggressive defenders, central defenders, Hangeland, I thought to go with Nando (Torres).

“And if I need to risk in this last part of the game to together with Nando and Demba (Ba). Players more adapted to this reality.

“You see Eto’o scores goals, but at home. He scores in the league, in the Champions League but all of them at home.

“I think away is more difficult for him. I think he is our best striker to play at home because of his technique, his movement and his understanding with Eden and Oscar.

“For me, he is he best to play at home. Away he is showing some difficulties so we made that decision to start with Fernando and have Demba for the last part of the game.”

Asked if Schurrle, who bagged a hat-trick against the bottom of the league side, could play as a number nine, Mourinho was dismissive.

“He’s not a striker,” said the Blues boss. “He is a cold blood.

“The kind of guy who, normally in front of the keeper, he is cold. He has a good finishing technique.”