We returned to winning ways in the Premier League with a crucial victory away at top-four rivals Aston Villa. The Blues had to overcome adversity to do so, though, having gone behind inside two minutes in Birmingham.

However, Rosenior's side produced the perfect response, keeping our heads after a penalty appeal – Reece James going under Ian Maatsen's challenge – went unanswered. Joao Pedro’s first Premier League hat-trick and a Cole Palmer strike ensured a fightback was completed at Villa Park.

‘I was very proud of them last night,’ said Rosenior in his post-match press conference. ‘We’ve had a few kicks, we spoke about responding positively before the game.

‘We had to in the game because Aston Villa scored from their first attack with a fantastic finish. Then I don’t understand how we don’t get a penalty; the fact that we won 4-1 doesn’t change that. That’s another setback.

‘So for the players to then perform in the manner that they did, with and without the ball, makes me very proud.

‘For sure, you’re going to have setbacks in a season, whether that’s dropping points, losing games that you shouldn’t or conceding the first goal.

‘The maturity of the team and the quality we played with can be better for sure. But in terms of the spirit and what you want to see in a team, I was really pleased with that.’

Rosenior believes the perfect example of the fighting spirit within his squad, which makes comebacks possible, is the now-regular pre-match huddle in the middle of the pitch, seen again as the sides prepared to kick off at Villa Park.

The Blues head coach says it's something that has developed naturally within the squad rather than being implemented following his appointment – and it gives him confidence for the future of his Chelsea side.

‘It’s come from the players and I really like it because they’re showing unity, togetherness and spirit,’ our head coach continued. ‘You need that.

‘Before you start talking about tactics or systems, you need a group of players willing to run and fight for each other. There’s not been one game in my time here that I can say they haven’t given everything, or that I was disappointed with their application. That bodes well.

‘They’re a good group, a tight group, they enjoy each other’s company. That’s half the battle.’

When evaluating Wednesday night’s win, Rosenior ended on a note of caution. While there is no ignoring the importance of the result – getting us back to winning ways, moving above Liverpool to fifth in the Premier League table and closing to gap to our opponents Aston Villa in fourth to three points – it will all be for nothing if we don’t follow it up by building momentum in the games to come.

‘It’s only significant [the victory] if you back it up,’ he concluded. ‘We have to be consistent. We have a massive FA Cup game against Wrexham, then we have a huge game in Paris [in the Champions League], then another huge game against Newcastle.

‘We just need to back it up and not look at the significance of the games. We just need to perform and, if we perform at that level, we are going to be in a good place.’