WE HAVE TO MAINTAIN OUR LEVEL OF ATTITUDE AND PERFORMANCE

One down, two to go. Three home games in a week, three wins required. We've got all but six points from our nine league games so far. If we maintain that form through the season we'll finish with around 90 points at the end of it.

So when people say that the title race will be more open this year and the winners will get fewer points, you have to ask if the teams involved now are capable of keeping that pace. We are. We know Man U are. The others have to prove it. I don't remember second place ever getting 90 points. It's a brilliant pace.

One thing you need to maintain your form is a fantastic squad. Wednesday's Champions League win against Atletico Madrid was exactly what we asked for following the defeat against Aston Villa. It was a great win and it underlined the importance of our squad.

Other teams, like Liverpool, seem to struggle with one or two injuries. We're very fortunate having a big squad of such good players and good people. Didi's been out and in comes Sala who scores two. Iva comes in next to me and Bella goes right-back and we keep a clean sheet.

Everyone in the squad is a credit to themselves. None of them drop their heads when they're not playing, they work hard, they train hard and they fight for their places.

That's so important to keep the players who are playing on their toes. When they come in and play like they did on Wednesday, then they drive thoughts into the manager's head and give him options about what his team should be. They give themselves a chance of playing more.

The staff takes great credit when the squad's like this, keeping training sharp, the atmosphere buoyant, helping everyone stay on their toes.

It's not just with the first team. Bella did well on Wednesday, but I watched Paulo on television coming back to fitness in the reserves and he had a great game. Alex played a half on his comeback and scored straight away.

Coley's getting fitter and Yury and Studge got on and got more of a taste of our play on Wednesday night. They're getting stronger. And, of course, Wednesday was topped up by Lampsy getting back on the scoresheet and going past Jimmy Greaves' record. Jimmy Greaves! What a great achievement!

Everyone in the squad is a part of our successes and failures, and everyone is good enough to put their stamp on this season.

You need to have this quality of squad to compete at this level. Today's fixture is the club's day of action for Kick it Out's 'One Game, One Community' initiative.

We all have a duty to ensure all forms of discrimination are eradicated, and it's great to see the club and everybody within football continue to work towards this aim.

Blackburn will give us a major test today, especially a physical one, and if we don't match that we'll struggle.

So we have to maintain our attitude and our performance today, and then win again on Wednesday. Win, win, win. One down, two to go.

Come on the Chels!

ChelseaFC