‘Blues have to build on Cheeky vibe’

MATEO KOVACIC is confident Chelsea can build on their unbeaten start to the season – if the squad works together.

And that means those on the fringes, such as England World Cup star Ruben Loftus-cheek, keeping up the pressure for a first-team place to ensure the regular starters stay on their toes.

Midfielder Kovacic, on loan from Real Madrid, said: “The season is long and we need every player.

“We’re footballers, but we have 25 players – so we need to support each other. One day I play, then the next day Ross Barkley, then Ruben.

“We’ve a lot of players — N’golo Kante, Cesc Fabregas, Jorginho – so a lot of quality in midfield. It’s normal, you can’t play every game, so we’re supporting each other.”

The Croatia international (above) added: “We’re still unbeaten but we are not first in the league, so we need to look ahead to get as many points as possible.

“There’s no pressure on us, being unbeaten. Why would there be?

“We like to play football and are enjoying every moment, every training session, so it’s just joy, not pressure.”

Loftus-cheek joined Chelsea at the age of eight, and was the hat-trick hero against BATE Borisov in the Europa League on Thursday, in a rare start. It took his senior goals tally at Chelsea to five.

The 22-year-old is expected to be back on the bench today at Burnley.

The Clarets were beaten 5-0 by Manchester City last weekend.

But Kovacic warned: “They will be tough and give their best to forget that game.”