Chelsea captain Gary Cahill believes they've battled to recover from the home defeat to Bournemouth in January.

The champions were stunned by Eddie Howe's side and succumbed to a shock 3-0 defeat.

"Up until the Bournemouth game things were fine and then, as we know, the results haven't gone our way and we put ourselves in a tough spot," Cahill said.

"We have to show a lot of courage and ambition to finish the season strongly.

"Qualifying for the Champions League is the ambition. We have put ourselves in a difficult situation, and we have to work hard to get ourselves out of it."