Photo: GETTY IMAGES

Chelsea defender Cesar Azpilicueta became only the fourth outfield player to feature in every minute of every match during a Premier League title-winning campaign, joining a list made up by Manchester United’s Gary Pallister in 1992/93, Leicester’s Wes Morgan last season and Chelsea team-mate John Terry in 2014/15.

“Obviously it’s not easy to play every minute and win the league,” Azpilicueta said as quoted on Chelsea’s official website.

“It’s a big achievement. I’ve tried to do my best to get in the team but I have to be thankful to the manager, he’s trusted me a lot.

“I was always in the team and the only way I could repay his confidence was by working hard which is what I’ve tried to do since pre-season. In the end we got a big reward but we want a bigger one next Saturday.

“The manager controls everything and he asked me how I was before Watford, after a Friday night game and the big celebrations.

“When I finished that game I was celebrating but in the back of my mind I didn’t want to let it go because I was 180 minutes away from a big achievement, so I did my best to recover.”