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Branislav Ivanovic, one of three players to have started each of our Premier League games this season, is not looking too far ahead as the campaign nears its conclusion.

In all competitions, the dependable defender has made 42 appearances for the Blues this season – out of a possible 48 – but it is in the league where his record is most impressive.

He has missed just a couple of minutes of action all season, and they were after he had been harshly dismissed at Old Trafford back in October. He has not been substituted once. When evaluating our success so far, therefore, he must take plenty of the credit, even if he would prefer to discuss the collective effort.

‘When you look at each game, one by one, you will see I have missed some in the cups, but yes, it’s still a lot,’ agrees Ivanovic.

‘As a squad we have great guys who can play every game; those possibilities are very important. We have been doing well all season so we haven’t had to try to change things too much.

‘It’s been a very long season. When you look at the first couple of games we played in the league it feels like it was two years ago! So it’s been very tough for us but we’re coming to the end now and we must stay focused.

‘We have six games to go and psychologically our first aim is to win the title as soon as possible, but we don’t need to rush. We have to study every game, we have to handle every game and we hope to win it as soon as possible.’

John Terry is the other defender to have started every league fixture this season (the skipper has completed every game, too) while it will not come as a shock that Eden Hazard has also begun all 32 games to date.

‘He is flying,’ offered Ivanovic when asked about our Belgian star. ‘In my opinion it’s been the best season of his career.

‘He’s made a difference every game. All season he has got a lot of kickings but he never complains. He’s a hard worker on the pitch. He’s improved massively from last season and for us he has been the most important player.

‘I see him every day in training and I’ve played a lot of games with him. He’s the guy who when you pass him the ball you just have to leave him alone. He will do everything. He’s something different.’

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