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Cape Town - Chelsea skipper Cesar Azpilicueta believes there is reason for optimism under the leadership of manager Frank Lampard.
The Blues have defied the odds this season, and they sit third in the Premier League table after a superb response from Lampard's men.
Chelsea lost their first two matches of the campaign in all competitions, while they had to wait until the end of August for their first win.
Back-to-back defeats to Valencia and Liverpool put Lampard under immense pressure, but the west London outfit have responded in fantastic fashion.
They have lost just one of their last 11 matches in all competitions, and they look like qualifying for the knockout stages of the Champions League.
A top-four finish in the Premier League could also be on the cards and Azpilicueta says he never had any doubt that the squad would turn their fortunes around.
Lampard has helped get the best out of Fikayo Tomori, Reece James, Christian Pulisic, Mason Mount and Tammy Abraham so far this season.
He has tried to keep his players grounded in recent weeks, but Azpilicueta admits he cannot help but be excited about the future.
The Spaniard told GQ Magazine: "Obviously, as club captain, you have more responsibilities, but it's a joy to watch a lot of the kids.
"It has been a long path for all the kids to be in the first team, and now I think they are getting the rewards that they deserve. I think we are creating something very good and I am very pleased.
"Hopefully we can keep going because we are a young squad and we can keep improving. It doesn't surprise me because I know the quality we have in the squad."
Chelsea face one of their biggest challenges of the season this weekend as they prepare to take on Manchester City at the Etihad Stadium.
- TeamTalk Media
