Long way to go - Matic

Nemanja Matic reflected on the team’s show of character in the win at Aston Villa and says more of the same will be needed when the title challenge resumes on Wednesday.

Everton arrive at the Bridge for a league match hard on the heels of our 2-1 victory at Villa Park, when Matic’s compatriot Branislav Ivanovic scored the winner after the home side had equalised Eden Hazard’s early goal. That meant three points more for the Blues than from the corresponding fixture last season, and two more than collected this weekend by our closest challengers.
‘The manager said before the game that it is going to be difficult and we have to expect that Aston Villa gives 200 per to win or take a point,’ reported Matic, ‘and it was exactly like this.
‘It was a difficult game and especially when they scored a goal. After that it was difficult for us to come back again into the game but Ivanovic scored the goal and after that it was not easy for us but easier.
‘We knew that it was going to be very difficult to win and that is why we are very happy. Maybe these kind of games are going to decide the title.’
Matic is now a year into his second spell at Chelsea having moved here from Portugal and has started in all but one of the league games this season. He is relishing his involvement throughout the whole title race.
‘I came to Chelsea in January and Benfica were champions at the end [of last season] and they sent me a medal so I was very happy, it is always nice when you win.
‘It is different when you are all season in a club and it would be special for me if we win but we have many games to the end and only seven points lead, because Manchester City are a very good team, they will fight to the end and we will see at the end. We are in a good way at the moment and we will try to keep like this but it is a long way to go.’
First up in that journey to the end of the season is a rematch with an Everton side beaten 6-3 at Goodison Park back in August when Matic was on the scoresheet.  
‘Now at home we have to win. We know that it is also going to difficult but if we want to be champions we have to win. Everton is not the kind of team to concede six. They did against us but not again so we just want to win, it doesn’t matter if it is with six goals or 1-0, we just need three points.’