Victor Moses said Chelsea have no fear of Manchester City and has issued a winter rallying cry for the Premier League champions as they go into a busy fixture period.
The 26-year-old is closing in on a return from a grade three hamstring strain and was forced to watch on as Man City gained a nine point lead in the table.
Chelsea have struggled to keep up with Moses and others out, with City on a nine-game winning run in the league.
Meanwhile, there have been rumours that Stamford Bridge has been a unhappy place to be with Antonio Conte’s future being constantly discussed and David Luiz being recently dropped from the side for the club’s win over Manchester United.
Moses insists that the squad are still like “brothers” and are ready close the gap ahead of a busy run of fixtures.
“I think we have done well. We as a team, whatever happens, we stick together as a team and do the best we can,” Moses told Goal after being shortlisted for both the BBC’s African Footballer of the Year and the Confederation of African Football’s (CAF) Player of the Year awards.
“I think people have been a bit too harsh but we as players don’t need to think about that or concentrate on what people have been saying.
“These criticisms are the kinds of things that makes a player stronger. We know that we just need to believe in ourselves and prove them wrong then win as many games as I can. We are 100 per cent together. We are like brothers here and we are all sticking together and working hard together.”