Cesar Azpilicueta is counting down the games until Chelsea win the Barclays Premier League title , and he thinks they have shown their strength by staying top of the table since 'day one ' . The Spanish defender and his club team-mates sit top of the table ahead of facing Stoke City at Stamford Bridge on Saturday , six points clear of nearest rivals Manchester City with a game in hand . The Blues have long been considered title favourites and Azpilicueta puts that down to the lightning start they made back in August , winning seven of their first eight games to take up first place early on . Cesar Azpilicueta ( centre ) is counting down the games until Chelsea win the Barclays Premier League title . Azpilicueta 's Chelsea sit top of the table ahead of facing Stoke City at Stamford Bridge on Saturday at 3pm . In fact , Jose Mourinho 's men have only briefly relinquished the title lead , on goal difference , since their impressive 3-1 win over Burnley at Turf Moor in their season opener back on August 18 . Their form has dipped at points since , most notably in defeats to Newcastle United and Tottenham Hotspur , but Azpilicueta is confident that Chelsea have been able to get through their bad moments unscathed . 'We have been top of the table since day one , ' he said . 'We kept that position obviously and had very good moments , as well as some less good moments , but we were there still top of the table and this is the strength of the team . 'You can be up and down , but you have to be focused on the target and I think now we are in a very good position . ' Jose Mourinho 's men have only briefly relinquished the title lead since their opening 3-1 win over Burnley . Diego Costa scored in the opening weekend win at Turf Moor and has scored 18 more in Chelsea 's title bid . Chelsea signed Atletico Madrid left back for £16million in the summer , but he has been largely kept out of the team by Azpilicueta who has consistently played in his less-natural position rather than at right back . Unsurprisingly , the 25-year-old Spaniard - who has had two weeks off after not being selected for his national team - is pleased to have kept his place under new competition within the Chelsea squad this season as they go in search of a league and Capital One Cup double . Filipe Luis ( right ) arrived for £16million at Chelsea in the summer but has been kept out by Azpilicueta . 'If you ask every player in every team , they are going to say they want to play and when you do not play , obviously you are not as happy as when you do play , ' Azpilicueta told Sky Sports . ' I have to go out on the pitch and give everything , to try to fight for every ball , to play and be useful for the team . And obviously when I finish the game and I feel I have given everything and we win , I am happy . 'There are individual battles in the game that you have to win . And after , if we win every one then I think the team will also win . '
Chelsea are 16 points clear with a game in overtime in the Premier League . They have led the championship game since a brilliant start to the season in August . Cesar ##ay feels that consistency puts them in top position to win .