Cahill: Chelsea have sent a ‘message’ to rivals after rough tactics

Gary Cahill is confident Chelsea will not be outmuscled in their bid for a second Double of the decade.

Chelsea return to action against Crystal Palace on Saturday with a 10-point lead at the top of the Premier League table and just 10 games to go.

But before the international break, Manchester United (in the FA Cup) and Stoke (in the League) tried to intimidate Chelsea with a more physical approach. Both games ended in victory for the runaway leaders, and Cahill feels they sent out a significant statement.

The defender told Standard Sport: “It was good for us to send a message in these games.

“We have played better this season than we did in those two games but we managed both those situations well and got the job done at a crucial time of the season.

“We are pleased. Teams have tried to play in different ways and systems against us but we have coped with it really well.

“We work really hard for each other on and off the pitch, which is the main thing. It’s been a good season up to now but we know we have to keep going.”

Chelsea, who won the Double in 2010, have a testing schedule coming with seven games in April, including the FA Cup semi-final against Tottenham at Wembley, as well as league matches against both Manchester clubs.

Cahill believes, however, that Chelsea are ready to cope with whatever tactics their rivals come up with.

He added: “It’s a case of adapting to different situations. Sometimes we have played our football and everything goes nicely but it’s not always going to be like that. Teams won’t always let you do that and they shouldn’t, either.

“It’s the way we have adapted to the situations that has been the most pleasing this season. Plus the way we are managing games.

“For example, there was a lot of stop and start in the first half in our win at Stoke, fouls and heated situations which could have boiled over.

“We could have got into a scrap with them but they would have been the ones to benefit.

“It’s just about managing the situations and still playing our football. The manager stresses all the time that we still need to do the things we need to do.”