Cesar Azpilicueta: 'Chelsea must keep pushing in the New Year'

Chelsea defender Cesar Azpilicueta has urged his side to finish the year on a high with victory against Stoke City in their final game of 2017 on Saturday.

The Blues, who are currently third in the Premier League, are chasing their eighth successive win at Stamford Bridge, and one that would ensure their position in the top four going into the New Year.

The club's last defeat came against West Ham United at the London Stadium earlier this month, and the Spaniard has said that Antonio Conte's side must keep pushing to avoid a similar outcome.

"What I see is that every game is a difficult game to win," he told Chelsea TV. "Apart from Manchester City, every team is having problems. We need to fight and to keep pushing.

"We have another game against Stoke, our last game of the year, and it's important to keep winning and getting points. We must try to go as far as we can."

Chelsea's game against Stoke is followed by a crunch meeting with London rivals Arsenal on January 3.