Ahead of this weekend’s trip to Arsenal, Gary Cahill sat down with the official Chelsea website to discuss big-game pressure, collective character and getting the job done…
When the Blues overcame Tottenham Hotspur at Wembley early last month, it was a victory which ensured there is only one major trophy which has eluded Cahill up to now– the Barclays Premier League title.
Since moving to Stamford Bridge from Bolton Wanderers in January 2012, the defender has amassed an impressive list of honours: the FA Cup, Champions League, Europa League and, thanks to that 2-0 win against Mauricio Pochettino’s side, the League Cup.
Sunday’s game at the Emirates precedes a trip to Leicester on Wednesday, and Cahill believes we are approaching the first of those in great shape.
‘We’ve worked so hard to get into the position we’re in now and we know if we win these next two matches we’ll be champions,’ Cahill tells the official Chelsea website.
‘In a way, the pressure is still on us because we have to keep winning in order to get over the line. We’ve been saying that for the last few weeks and, thankfully, in the last few weeks we’ve managed to do that.
‘We’re in a great position as we go into Arsenal away, which is always a massive game, always a big test and always a great atmosphere. If we come through Sunday’s game we’ll be in an even stronger position but it’s a hard place to go and get three points.
‘If you ask every player in the squad they will tell you they enjoy playing in big games. Last week it was Chelsea v Manchester United, a massive fixture, and now it’s Arsenal v Chelsea, another huge match. Thankfully, since I’ve been at the club we’ve managed to do well against them, which is obviously a positive.
‘They’re in good form but so are we, we’re getting results week in, week out at the moment so it will be two good teams going up against each other.’
The Blues are looking to record a sixth consecutive away win in the Premier League. A Cesc Fabregas
goal right at the death allowed us to take all three points in our most
recent game away from Stamford Bridge, against QPR, while in the
previous away fixture Loic Remy’s second-half strike proved decisive
against Hull.
Put simply, we are finding a way to get results at a time in the season when results are all that matter.
‘It’s a huge quality to have,’ says Cahill. ‘In the first half of the season we were blowing certain teams away. Now, if you look at the last two games – Manchester United and QPR – they were really tough in different ways. At QPR the conditions were difficult, it was a dry, bobbly pitch and they played very direct football.
‘Last week we played an in-form Man United and, possession wise, they asked a lot of questions. But, in those games we dug in and were able to grind the results out. We know we can play good football but at this moment in time it’s about getting results.’
Put simply, we are finding a way to get results at a time in the season when results are all that matter.
‘It’s a huge quality to have,’ says Cahill. ‘In the first half of the season we were blowing certain teams away. Now, if you look at the last two games – Manchester United and QPR – they were really tough in different ways. At QPR the conditions were difficult, it was a dry, bobbly pitch and they played very direct football.
‘Last week we played an in-form Man United and, possession wise, they asked a lot of questions. But, in those games we dug in and were able to grind the results out. We know we can play good football but at this moment in time it’s about getting results.’
The manner in which victory was secured, both in last week’s game
against Louis van Gaal’s side and the match at Loftus Road, has
certainly enhanced the belief within the squad, and Cahill says that if we end the season as champions we will look back on that seven-day period as being hugely significant.
‘Those two matches are pivotal to us reaching our main goal at the end of the season,’ he says.
‘We’ve been at the top of the league since very early, so to be in a position where you can actually see the finishing line is great.
‘Apart from the League Cup final, the results against United and QPR have been the biggest of the season so far. If we’d dropped points in those games we’d be going into Sunday’s match in a completely different position, so full credit to the lads for coming through them, we just want to keep going now.’
‘Those two matches are pivotal to us reaching our main goal at the end of the season,’ he says.
‘We’ve been at the top of the league since very early, so to be in a position where you can actually see the finishing line is great.
‘Apart from the League Cup final, the results against United and QPR have been the biggest of the season so far. If we’d dropped points in those games we’d be going into Sunday’s match in a completely different position, so full credit to the lads for coming through them, we just want to keep going now.’
Our last visit to north London, when we faced Tottenham at White Hart
Lane on New Year’s Day, was only our second defeat of the season in the
Premier League, but in the 12 league games since, Mourinho’s men are unbeaten having picked up 30 points from a possible 36.
‘At the time it was a blow, but it shows the character we have in the squad to react in the way we did to that result, because it can go one of two ways,’ Cahill explains.
‘It’s impossible to go through a season without getting a kick in the teeth somewhere along the line, that game made us realise that we needed to re-group and go again. The response to that result has been absolutely fantastic and that’s down to the spirit in the squad.’
In part two of our interview, which you can read over the weekend, Cahill talks about enjoying his football at present and our impressive defensive record.
‘At the time it was a blow, but it shows the character we have in the squad to react in the way we did to that result, because it can go one of two ways,’ Cahill explains.
‘It’s impossible to go through a season without getting a kick in the teeth somewhere along the line, that game made us realise that we needed to re-group and go again. The response to that result has been absolutely fantastic and that’s down to the spirit in the squad.’
In part two of our interview, which you can read over the weekend, Cahill talks about enjoying his football at present and our impressive defensive record.
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