Gary Cahill Displays 'Warrior' Mentality to Overcome Dip in Chelsea Form

Jose Mourinho made no secret of what earned his Chelsea team three points against West Ham United this week.

Speaking in his press conference after the game, the Chelsea boss praised the mentality of his players and the character they showed to grind out a vital win.

"When good football is not enough, we fight, we suffer together and cope with difficult moments," he said. "We have this period, coming from a certain profile of player."

Mourinho described that profile as a willingness to be "a good warrior," and nobody represented that ideal better at Upton Park than Gary Cahill.

Chelsea's England international has come in for plenty of flak in recent times.

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Some criticism has been justified, but there is the sense that the media have amplified marginal errors.

Whether it's come on the back of Kurt Zouma's emergence or a frustration with how Chelsea have played this past month is anyone's guess, but the fact remains that Cahill has been the focus of some unwanted attention.

He's been the fall guy.

Chelsea's New Year's Day defeat to Tottenham Hotspur still haunts Cahill. The way Harry Kane got the better of him on numerous occasions was an eye-opener, especially as few strikers had dominated him to that extent since he joined Chelsea from Bolton Wanderers in January 2012.

Far from dropping his head, Cahill has gradually rebuilt his confidence and restored his reputation in the process.

This week has seen the return of the player we have known.

In the Capital One Cup final on Sunday, Kane didn't get a sniff, and if there was a hint he might, Cahill didn't make the same mistakes he did two months earlier at White Hart Lane.

It must have been on his mind, yet like any professional of note, Cahill didn't allow the same errors to impact his game.

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He studied Kane and worked him out, and with Chelsea lifting the Capital One Cup on the back of a clean sheet, it's clear who won that Wembley battle.

Against West Ham just three days later, Cahill was back doing it all again, making a remarkable last-ditch tackle to deny Diafra Sakho near the end. Thibaut Courtois had spilled a shot, but before Sakho could react, Cahill dove to rescue his goalkeeper, clearing the ball to safety. It was the moment that secured the three points for Chelsea.

What's impressed about Cahill in this difficult period is how his attitude has got him through. He hasn't complained when Zouma started ahead of him, nor has he sat back and accepted his fate.

Cahill has stuck true to the very quality that got him his move to Chelsea in the first place: hard work.

He may be unglamorous and unfancied, but he has always been those things throughout his career.

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And as he put it to the London Evening Standard's Simon Johnson this week:

"

Having people doubt you is what gives you that fire in your belly. It’s got me to where I am today.

When I was at Bolton, I went to England and people said: 'He can’t play for England'. I proved them wrong.

I came to Chelsea and people then said: 'This guy can’t play in the Champions League' and I proved that wrong.

"

It's a fine habit to have, and in this past week, Cahill has silenced the naysayers once more.

Cahill is certainly one of Mourinho's warriors.

Garry Hayes is Bleacher Report's lead Chelsea correspondent. All quotes were obtained firsthand unless otherwise noted. Follow him on Twitter @garryhayes