Frank Lampard has already spoken about a best-performance-of-the-season earlier in the campaign but after Saturday, he is reassessing his view.
And the Chelsea number 8 feels he will be making the comment a few more times as the 2008/09 season unfolds under Felipe Scolari's regime.
'The way we set about the game right from the starting moment was brilliant with our movement and our passing,' explained the vice-captain. 'That is the best we have played for a long time. I have said that a couple of times already this season, but it's been true.'
It was Lampard who scored Chelsea's fourth just past the hour, with a header almost identical to that which he scored against Bordeaux, the only difference this time was that Salomon Kalou sent the cross in rather than Jose Bosingwa.
'I don't get many headers, my second for the season, which is nice, but by then the game was pretty much out of sight anyway,' Lampard pointed out.
On top of the assist for Lampard's header, Kalou put in a near flawless performance at the Riverside Stadium, rewarding the travelling Chelsea contingent with two goals.
Another great performance came from Juliano Belletti, who settled into his new midfield role with ease, smashing a trademark goal into the top right in the 50th minute, right in front of the away fans.
But, after Saturday's immense performance, Lampard knows Chelsea will need to keep producing this standard of football if we are to achieve our hopes for the season.
'Boro weren't at their best, they would probably admit that, and it is a bit strong to say we could beat any team if we played the way we did,' said the England international.
'But if we are playing as well as we did, and we keep that up for the season, then we have a great chance. We can't take our foot off the pedal, because the moment you do that, things can change.
'At the moment we are full of confidence, we have such a strong squad that we are coping with the injuries we have got, who are all top players, and the attitude we came to Middlesbrough with after the international break was fantastic.
'People might have expected us to have a dodgy start on the Saturday morning, but we came out of the blocks and we played fantastically.'
John Mikel Obi, who stayed in the holding role on Saturday, had a perfect view of Chelsea's fine football, and he believes the Blues can attribute our recent goal tally to one man - Scolari.
'When you have a manager who believes in you and who gives you confidence then you just want to go out there and always do well,' said the Nigerian.
'I hope I will not disappoint him this season because of the amount of belief he has in me. Hopefully the team is going to keep doing well all season; all we want to do is win titles.'
Mikel also feels there will be more from Chelsea over the coming months.
'The season is not over yet and there are going to be a lot better performances than this one.'
Now the Blues will prepare for two important fixtures over the coming seven days, a midweek fixture against Roma in the Champions League before hosting Liverpool at the Bridge on Sunday.
'We know these are very important games,' explained Mikel.
'When we play Liverpool next weekend we have to make sure we win because we are at home, and the game against Roma is the same thing because it is the Champions League.'
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