Gary Cahill's Composure is Ideal Example for Chelsea and Nigel Pearson to Follow

Nigel Pearson's press conference meltdown has been the talking point from Chelsea's 3-1 victory over Leicester City on Wednesday.

As the incidents stack up, the Foxes boss doesn't seem to be dealing with the pressure of a relegation scrap very well.

Maybe he can take heed of the example Gary Cahill has set at Chelsea this season.

Alongside John Terry, the Englishman was exceptional once again as Chelsea secured a victory that leaves them needing just two more points from their remaining five games to be crowned Premier League champions.

Cahill has been a major figure at the heart of everything Chelsea have achieved this season, but it hasn't exactly been gifted to him.

After winning the Stamford Bridge centre-back battle with David Luiz, the emergence of Kurt Zouma has given him a whole new challenge to contend with.

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Indeed, when Cahill lost form over Christmas, it even appeared Zouma may well get the nod ahead of his more experienced team-mate.

The youngster was preferred to Cahill in some big games, including the Capital One Cup semi-final against Liverpool at Stamford Bridge.

Rather than lose his cool and cause problems for Jose Mourinho, Cahill was statesman-like, focusing on his performances, working hard to get himself back to the levels that had seen so much trust placed in him.

Under the glare of scrutiny, he showed the mettle and attitude required to make it at the highest level in football.

Now the season is reaching it's climax, Cahill's approach has paid dividends.

It's no surprise, either. Cahill is a player of real substance—a nice guy off the pitch, always affable and willing to dissect games for the good or bad.

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He doesn't dodge questions or look for excuses. He's honest and forthcoming, a player who is deserving of the respect he has among his Chelsea team-mates.

On the pitch, he's a fierce competitor and has become firmly entrenched in the Mourinho philosophy.

Shortly before Pearson entered the media room at the King Power Stadium on Wednesday, Mourinho was holding court with the gathered media for his own press conference.

The Chelsea boss was asked what has made this Chelsea team so successful this season when they have failed too often to reclaim the Premier League trophy they last lifted in 2010.

There was a pause, then came a smile before he explained the secret was a simple one.

"[We] work hard. It's the only way," he said. "Work hard and well, because some people work hard and bad.

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"Work hard and well; I think that's the secret of everyone of us, with everybody working to the same objective. There are no other objectives, no individual objectives.

"The individual objectives are left behind. The objective was the Barclays Premier League. After that, the PFA Player of the Year, Chelsea Player of the Year, new contract, more money, better conditions; all these things.

"The target was there for everyone to win the Premier League, so when we do that, I think everyone has to celebrate as it was the hard way."

Given how he has reached this stage of his career, there is no better player than Cahill at Chelsea to represent what Mourinho explained.

He didn't leave Aston Villa as a young, up-and-coming player to earn more money; he joined Bolton Wanderers as it was an opportunity to earn more experience when game time was limited at Villa Park.

Lefteris Pitarakis/Associated Press

When he joined Chelsea in 2012, it was about taking the next step in his career to prove that he was the player he always aspired to be.

"Having people doubt you is what gives you that fire in your belly. It’s got me to where I am today," he told Simon Johnson of the Evening Standard in March.

"[...] There are challenges in front of you that you face all the time in football. You ride through and come out the other end."

The criticism and scrutiny of Cahill has been intense—much more so than what has been levelled at Pearson and his Leicester players this season, some might say.

Cahill has dealt with it all in dignified tone, and now he's all but a Premier League champion.

It's the finest example one can set.

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