Chelsea boss Rafa Benitez has explained Gary Cahill's absence for victory at Stoke City.

Cahill was allowed to skip the match at Stoke as his girlfriend Gemma gave birth to a baby boy, and had double cause for celebration as Chelsea got back on track with a 4-0 victory.

"We were training with Gary Cahill yesterday and had worked out the shape of the team with him," said Benitez, "but he had to go because his partner had a baby.

"The baby's fine, he's happy, she's happy, and we are happy, so everything has gone well."