Mauricio Pochettino's team had to bide their time against a stubborn Sheffield United defence at Stamford Bridge, but found the breakthrough after half-time when Cole Palmer turned in Raheem Sterling's pass to open the scoring, and then Palmer turned provider to set up Nicolas Jackson and seal a 2-0 win for Chelsea.

Our head coach felt it was an important three points and victory to get back to winning ways following consecutive away defeats in the Premier League, and could give our confidence a boost going into our Carabao Cup quarter-final against Newcastle United.

'I am happy because the players deserve the victory, ' said Pochettino. 'They worked during the week, they reacted. It’s about building our confidence but at the same time we need to realise we need to change if we want to improve.

'But I’m happy because the three points for us was really important and then because on Tuesday we have a very important game against Newcastle, when going into it from a victory is completely different. Arriving at that game with a good feeling from a victory and confidence that we can go through is really important.

'It’s always difficult against Sheffield United, you could see that when they played different teams. The first half was difficult because they defended really well and they were ready with a very low block. But I think we started really well, we just couldn’t make chances.

'The most important thing was that we dominated, and dominated also in the transitions. Sometimes in this kind of game you become frustrated because you cannot score. The team showed big maturity in controlling the transitions and we didn’t give them much opportunity to score.

'I’m so happy, so pleased, the players deserved after a few defeats to feel victory again.'

Pochettino was pleased the way the changes to the shape at half-time allowed us to secure victory after the break...

'In the first half it was a little bit frustrating because we didn’t find a way to break the low block of Sheffield United. We were frustrated but at the same time all 11 players were committed with the team, chasing the opponent trying to get the ball back as soon as possible and not give the opportunity to Sheffield United to create chances.

'In the second half we fixed different positions and we started to find better possibilities with the ball and stretch their line, with Sterling and Jackson going into the space. I think we were aggressive enough, but we suffered in the first half because we made a mistake in the way that we tried to penetrate.

'In the second half with the things that we changed the team found better solutions. We swapped Sterling and Palmer, and the positions of our full-back and the midfield also. In the first half we didn’t give the possibility to Cole or the team to really find better positions on the pitch. That is why we changed, and the way to build from a medium block.

'I think we put too much pressure on Disasi and Colwill when they were on the ball, with only one option to play. It was impossible to create chances and circulate the ball, because always we gave them time to shuffle, and when we took risks we lost the ball.

'When we changed positions in the second half we did much better and started to create real problems to Sheffield United.'

He also felt the clean sheet showed a solid defensive performance, and the return to fitness of Benoit Badiashile following injury...

I think collectively it was good. Benoit, after long time away because he suffered a big injury, now he’s recovering his feeling and this is good. The challenge for us now is to recover all the players.

'It’s going to be difficult because we had a few injuries last week, and then we need to try to get the best from the squad which has a good balance if they are all fit.

'I am happy because this was important and now we are thinking about Newcastle on Tuesday, an important game to go to the semi-final. Newcastle are a great team but I think we can feel confident.'