Gary Cahill: Chelsea move helped me get accepted on international stage

Gary Cahill feels accepted

Chelsea and England centre-back Gary Cahill says he feels more accepted after his good performances for Chelsea and is confident about performing well at the World Cup. Cahill is part of a solid defence alongside Everton centre-back Phil Jagielka and the duo have been praised as England have conceded only 4 goals in the qualification stages topping Group H.

Speaking after England’s 3-0 over Peru recently, the 28 year old said, “I feel a lot more experienced, I feel I know the role a lot better, I feel that I'm kind of accepted on this stage and I still want to keep learning and pushing forward. Since I've come to Chelsea I've enjoyed it, it's gone really well for me, and I can't get wait to get started in my first major competition with England, which will be very exciting."

Speaking on his partnership with Jagielka “We have a good understanding, it's come from playing a few games together, as it always does. You don't all of a sudden hit it off with someone, but I feel we hit it off quite quickly and there's definitely an understanding in each other's game.”

Cahill is keen to continue England’s current excellent defensive record saying “We've got exciting attacking players, so everyone pays their money to go and watch players take players on, do what Daniel [Sturridge] did and whip one into the top corner from 25 yards, that's what people like to see. But we go about our business quietly at the back, we work hard to keep goals out and I think it's going well. We're proud of our record, but we want to build on that and take it into the World Cup where it counts.”

Both Cahill and Jagielka scored against Peru as England cruised to a 3-0 win and Cahil feels that his experience with Chelsea in both the Champions League and the Premier League will help him deal with the pressure “In terms of our job there's pressure in every game you play, near enough. I think just going back to the experience has probably helped me but I'm pleased at the minute and I'm looking forward to the World Cup and in terms of preparation I think the first game went great.”

England play Ecuador and Honduras in their remaining friendlies before the World Cup begins on June 12.