Chelsea goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois has deflected praise onto the club's back three following a run of five straight clean sheets.
The Blues have won each of those Premier League games, scoring 16, since Antonio Conte changed to three at the back following successive top flight defeats to Liverpool and Arsenal in September.
Cesar Azpilicueta, David Luiz and Gary Cahill have been watertight at the back and Courtois says he has had very little to do.
The Belgium international told reporters: "The clean sheets are nice but, apart from against Leicester and Manchester United, I didn't have too much work to do. That's part of the teamwork.
"If you defend well you keep clean sheets and that's what's happening with Belgium and Chelsea."
Chelsea went top of the Premier League for the first time since August with a thumping 5-0 win over Everton on Saturday.
The Blues were pushed off the summit by a similarly ruthless Liverpool the following day, but remain in the frame for league honours after 11 top flight fixutres.
And Courtois believes Chelsea can maintain a title push.
"We could be title contenders but after last season we have to be careful about everything," he added.
"We cannot relax because maybe last year we went too easy into the season because we were champions the year before. We have to keep the focus, ambition and hunger to win and, if we keep that, then maybe in May we can lift that trophy.
