Chelsea: Thrashing Swansea in January was 'the best we played as a team' says Gary Cahill

Chelsea defender Gary Cahill has claimed the 5-0 victory at Swansea City in January has been the best performance of the season for the Premier League champions.

The Blues thrashed Garry Monk's side after Oscar and Diego Costa scored braces during an impressive first-half before Andre Schurrle completed the victory with 11 minutes to go.

Cahill, who has started 31 out of 36 Premier League games this campaign, believes that performance was the best in a season where the Blues have won both the domestic league and the League Cup.

"Other than the obvious reasons, that we scored five and conceded zero, we started the game so well and I felt it was the best we played as a team," Cahill said to Chelsea official website.

"As a defender, I was on the halfway line for a long period of that game, just watching what was going on in front of us. Football-wise, we produced some great stuff that day, so I would say it was probably our best display."

Having topped the Premier League since the beginning of the campaign, the Blues secure the title with three games left of the season after beating Crystal Palace at home on 3 May.

Cahill believes being unbeaten in the games – both home and away – against Manchester City, Arsenal, United and Liverpool has been key to their successful campaign.

"The games against the other title challengers have been important because we always felt, going into them, that they could change things at the top of the league," he said.

"Us and Manchester City cancelled each other out with two draws this season and that has benefited us ultimately. In fact, this season, we haven't lost to any of the really big teams, which is vital when you are competing with them."

"When you play the top boys, the big boys in the league, it's so important not to lose and that's what has happened this season."

Meanwhile, the England international has spoken out about the recent crucial victory at Loftus Road, while claiming the games against Queens Park Rangers made for the most exciting London derby for the Blues.

"We have a lot of derby games being a London club and everyone has their opinion on which one feels the most like a derby. For different reasons, they all feel important, but for me QPR felt the most like a big local derby, 100%," he said,

"From the minute we stepped off the coach at Loftus Road and we saw how vocal their fans were at that moment, we felt the passion of that game.

"Both sets of fans were desperate to win in both those games – you could feel it at Stamford Bridge and at their place. It was more than just footballing reasons for the fans, it was wanting to get one over their rivals."