Monday 6 October 2014 15:26, UK
Chelsea captain John Terry has urged his team-mates to avoid complacency following their impressive start to the Premier League season.
Sunday's 2-0 victory over Arsenal in a hot-tempered clash at Stamford Bridge was Chelsea's sixth win in seven games and earned them a five-point advantage over reigning champions Manchester City heading into the international break.
Given Jose Mourinho's history of claiming titles from the front, the Blues have been installed as firm favourites to win their first Premier League title since the 2009/10 season.
But with 31 league matches remaining in a long and arduous campaign, Terry is fully aware that Chelsea cannot afford any lapse in momentum while stressing the importance of taking advantage of slip-ups from their title rivals.
"Clearly it (the title race) is not over," Terry said. "Other teams have been in this position. It's nice to have the lead but when you're at the top everyone wants to shoot you down.
"That's the good thing about the Premier League and why everyone loves it. Teams are out to get us because we are at the top and playing well.
"The international break is here and we need to come back and maintain our form after that as well. It's very important we do that.
"You're just hoping when you're at the top and have a five-point cushion and more on certain teams, a couple of them slip up again and that increases.
"If that happens, it's a lot of points to give up early on. All we can do is keep winning and wait for those teams to slip up."
Terry also played down concerns over the fitness of star striker Diego Costa, who has made a sensational impact on the Premier League with nine goals in seven league games since joining from Atletico Madrid in a £32million deal in the summer.
Mourinho has claimed the Spain international has been restricted in training due to a lingering hamstring problem, but Terry added: "I'm not sure where that's coming from.
"He isn't showing that in training. He looks sharp, he looks angry, he looks aggressive. He's fit and that's the main thing. Diego has been a nightmare for defenders. He popped up with another great finish against Arsenal."
Costa scored Chelsea's second after latching onto a superb lofted through-ball from former Gunners skipper Cesc Fabregas, who has been inspirational in the centre of the Blues' midfield this season.
"When it's quiet and tight like that you need someone to open up the defence," Terry said of Fabregas. "He's not only shown it against Arsenal but from day one."
