Salomon Kalou feels the manner of Chelsea's win at Benfica has brought the squad together.

Kalou was not the only Chelsea player to enjoy a rare start, with Paulo Ferreira and John Obi Mikel also back in the XI as manager Roberto Di Matteo's gamble of resting six of his weary players paid off.

Kalou summed up the feeling among the fringe men.

"It's always very important for a player to play and enjoy the game," he said.

"For me it has been a hard season not playing.

"Every time I have an opportunity to be on the pitch, I enjoy it to the maximum."