Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho felt the 2-1 win at Crystal Palace highlighted how far his team have progressed in recent months.
Mourinho was critical of his players after a defeat at Selhurst Park in March – a game which seemed to sum up their shortcomings last season.
But they coped well with Palace’s high-tempo style this time and lovely goals from Oscar and Cesc Fabregas maintained the Blues’ five-point lead at the top of the Premier League.
“I am most pleased with the way we imposed our game,” Mourinho explained.
“I said yesterday that in that game [last season] they were better than us and if you come here and don’t impose your game you have no chance.
“Our only chance was to impose our game and I think we did that from minute one to minute 94. We were always far from our goal and we moved the ball very well.”
The result will only enhance Chelsea’s billing as title favourites, but Mourinho insisted they would not get complacent.
He said: “In another league I would say we will [win the title], but in the Premier League all I can say is that we can do it.
“There is a long way to go and there will be many difficulties in front of us. All I can say is what is obvious and what we all feel – that we’re a better team than last season and there is a clear evolution.
“And that evolution is not based just on the fact that we brought in fantastic players. Today we were without one of those players [Diego Costa]. It is a team evolution.”
Follow West London Sport on Twitter
Find us on Facebook
This post was last modified on 18/10/2014