Jose Mourinho lauded the battling qualities of his Chelsea side after the Premier League leaders claimed a hard-fought 1-0 win at West Ham.
Eden Hazard's first-half header proved the difference as Chelsea followed their Capital One Cup win with a victory which ensured their five-point lead over Manchester City remained intact.
It might have been different had the restored Thibaut Courtois not made a host of fine saves and Chelsea's defence, shaky at times, not made some key blocks.
"When good football is not enough, we fight, we suffer together, we cope with difficult moments," Mourinho said. "It was not the best game to play after the final. The final is more than a game, because of tension, pressure and emotions.
"Some periods we had to defend with everything. It's a game where you easily can lose two points.
"We had chances to kill the game. We were expecting that. We didn't and when you don't do that against West Ham you are in permanent danger. Great victory for us."
Mourinho dismissed West Ham manager Sam Allardyce's stance that Hazard's goal should have been ruled out for offside.
The Blues boss said: "Eden starts the action outside the box and he moves the ball, Fabregas, Oscar, pass to Ramires. I don't think Ramires is offside and Eden coming from outside the box I don't think is offside. But I didn't see on television. Maybe Sam saw it. For me, no.
"The only goal we scored is fantastic football. If Ramires scored that goal that he hit the post, it's fantastic football. If Willian scores the goal with an open goal it's fantastic football."
Mourinho, who has been critical of match officials this season, praised referee Andre Marriner and his team after an action-packed contest.
"This match must be a nightmare for a referee," he said. "For me Andre and his assistants had a good game."
Chelsea have one trophy this season and Mourinho hopes the quality of his side can deliver further success.
"Now we are trying to build. We have one cup in the pocket. Let's see what we can do," he added. "What's kept us top of the league since day one is the quality of our football. [But] sometimes we lose a little bit what brought us to this position."
The loss of quality is when players are injured or suspended. On Wednesday night Nemanja Matic was both.
Matic was completing a two-match ban for his sending off against Burnley but would not have been fit to play after an injury in celebrating the League Cup win.
He had changed from his club suit to full playing kit for the trophy presentation at Wembley before twisting an ankle, but the midfielder will be fit for next week's Champions League last-16 second leg against Paris Saint-Germain.
"Matic is injured and he got an injury celebrating the cup," Mourinho added. "It's not a big injury, but if today he was not suspended, he wouldn't play. "He twisted his ankle. On the pitch. He put on shinpads but he didn't put the tape on. He will play against Paris. On Saturday, Sunday, he will train."