Gary Cahill hails team spirit for Chelsea surge
Thursday 15 December 2016 11:47, UK
Gary Cahill has pointed to Chelsea's team spirit as the reason behind their surge clear at the top of the table.
The Blues head into Saturday's clash against struggling Crystal Palace with a six-point advantage over Liverpool and Arsenal after the club's 1-0 victory at Sunderland, their 10th consecutive Premier League victory.
Live Premier League
However, Cahill is aware the campaign is only 16 games in and insists the Blues will need to maintain the standards they have set if they are to build on an impressive start
He told Chelsea TV: "You knock those stats out and at this moment in time, it's difficult to criticise that. I'm sure there will be people out there who can have a go at criticising it, but at this moment in time, we are going well.
"But I know more than anyone, football goes week by week, month by month. We want to keep this going and continue the good spirit that's in our camp at the minute. That's the most important thing for us."
Chelsea dominated possession at the Stadium of Light and Cesc Fabregas' first league goal of the season gave the visitors the lead before Courtois made two impressive second-half stops, extending the Blue's winning run.
"We are not letting goals in, we are keeping clean sheets at the minute," Cahill added. "Thibaut pulled off two vital saves for us, so obviously a big shout to Thibaut for the one at his legs, and the one late on was terrific, so he showed his worth for us.
"Although I didn't think he had loads to do, that's what top keepers do. A couple of key moments and he produced."
Courtois' stoppage-time save from Patrick van Aanholt's fiercely-struck effort was the pick of the two, and the 24-year-old's display earned him high praise from his teammate.
"For me, it was how sharp it was. He [Van Aanholt] hit it so well, the pace was phenomenal, so for a big guy to get across the goal as quickly as he did was phenomenal," Cahill said. "That's why the second one was special.
"We owed him late on for that, but defensively, we are making blocks, we are putting our heads in the way, clearing the ball and letting the lads go forward and create, which they did on numerous occasions.
"We did have opportunities to go two in front, we didn't take them, but we kept going and that's the sort of attitude we have got at the minute.
"We never give up, we keep pushing and pushing until the very end and it's getting us results."
