Mauricio Pochettino praises Chelsea's professionalism after Fulham win

Mauricio Pochettino has suggested that he was proud of how Chelsea battled their way to a 1-0 victory over Fulham on Saturday afternoon.

The Blues went into the West London derby at Stamford Bridge aware that a two-goal victory may be enough to move into seventh place in the Premier League standings.

Chelsea instead had to be content with rising to eighth spot after a Cole Palmer penalty late in the first half proved decisive in a hard-fought contest.

While Chelsea squandered a number of openings at one end, they also had to defend valiantly at the other in order to preserve what was a rare clean sheet in the top flight.

Nevertheless, Pochettino's side have now won three successive fixtures in the Premier League, as well as 12 points coming from a possible 15 with the only defeat being against Wolverhampton Wanderers.

Although Chelsea received justified criticism for the 1-0 reverse at Middlesbrough in the EFL Cup earlier this week, Pochettino feels that their improvements should be more widely recognised.

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Speaking to reporters at a press conference, as quoted by football.london, the Argentine said: "If you see the last period of different competition, we were one of the best teams performing.

"Talking about result, only result we didn't get against MIddlesbrough, it effects our run and perception of people. If you go back the last month, we were one of the better sides.

"Three games in a row in the Premier League, four at Stamford Bridge, important thing for the team in the way we are building this process to feel the confidence, the trust and accepting the criticism. Previous years in cups, teams were also defeated but that is part of the process, part of reality.

"We know very well the way we need to keep working and the players today were very professional. Very happy with the first 30 minutes of the second half and I think we performed and linked very well.

"Good to see this young team defend in the way we did and doing everything to try and get the result."

Chelsea now have a 10-day break before they face Middlesbrough in the second leg of their EFL Cup semi-final on January 23, with an FA Cup tie versus Aston Villa and Premier League contest at Liverpool to follow in quick succession.