Stanic: We can't win The Premiership

The Croatian star, who exploded into the English game with a wonder-goal against West Ham at the beginning of last season, has finally won an extended run in the side, after poor form and serious injury and has not let anyone down.

However, talk of Chelsea getting back in the running and winning the title are premature, according to the player.

"We have enough talent to become champions, but we don't have the mentality of champions," said Stanic.

"People say that the coach needs to bring in new players, but that is not the problem. The problem is in our heads and it is us, the players, who have to take responsibility.

"It is a fact that we have the necessary quality in the squad.

"We have shown that in the games against the top teams like Arsenal and Manchester United. But we have been letting ourselves down when we play the smaller clubs.

"We are like Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde - there are two sides to our personality. For three matches we will be unstoppable, but then we'll play really poorly and lose a game that we shouldn't lose.

"For example, we went to Newcastle United, played some great stuff and took all three points. But then in our next game we lost to Southampton at Stamford Bridge. That's not good enough

"I think we still have a chance of claiming a Champions' League spot and we're also in two Cups, so the season is far from over."

29-year-old Stanic played for Parma in Serie A, so is not stranger to pressure - and he believes that in this respect the English game is easier.

"At Chelsea, we do feel pressure to win every game," adds Stanic. "But for a player like me, who has come across from Italy, it is nothing.

"When you play in Italy, the pressure you feel after drawing a game is more intense that the pressure here after you have lost three games in a row."