Gary Cahill says criticism does affect him but insists he has been a ‘massive success’ at Chelsea

Cahill has been dropped by Antonio Conte for several big games this season, including both legs of the Blues’ Champions League tie with Barcelona

Cahill is the most senior player in the Blues' squad (Getty)

Gary Cahill has said that criticism about his position in the Chelsea squad does frustrate him but he insisted his time at Stamford Bridge has been a ‘massive success’ and he will fight for that to continue.

The former Bolton Wanderers defender joined the Blues for a paltry £7m in January 2012 and he has since gone on to win six major trophies with the club.

Cahill has found himself out of favour at times this season, with manager Antonio Conte choosing to leave him out of the starting eleven for several big fixtures this season including both legs of Chelsea’s ill-fated tie with Barcelona.

And the England international, who has also found himself out of Gareth Southgate’s plans of late, has admitted that comments about his future can frustrate him.

“The majority of Chelsea fans have been unbelievable to me, but there is maybe an element of five per cent always thinking ‘get the next best thing in’ or ‘move him on’,” Cahill told the Telegraph. “I can feel that in a certain percentage. It always seems to be that when someone is signed, it’s ‘oh Cahill’s on his way’. I’ve had that for as long as I can remember being at this club.

“Last year, John Terry was captain off the pitch but I was captain the majority of the time on the pitch and yet I’m hearing ‘Cahill might be fighting for his place’.

Gary Cahill believes the Chelsea players have a lot to answer for after their defeats by Watford and Bournemouth (Getty)

“We smashed records last year, up until now with Manchester City breaking them, I captained the team, won the title again for the second time, got to an FA Cup final, and you are still hearing you are in trouble.

“It sometimes annoys me, but the reality is I was in no trouble because the club showed faith in me and we went on to dominate the League.”

Cahill has regained his place in Antonio Conte’s starting eleven of late, starting Chelsea’s last five fixtures.

The 32-year-old has seen a number of a players come and go from the Bridge, but he has remained a key figure for the past six years.

And he believes that despite some absences this season, he has been, and hopes to continue to be, a massive success in West London.

“To come for £7m, bought to be a squad player, to go on and win two Premier Leagues and team of the year three out of the last four, and then get the armband, for that money. Does that happen? People go for £30m, £40m, £50m at this moment in time and don’t make the level at the club they are at, leave after a season and nothing is spoken about.

“When you break that down, whether you like me or not, you can’t say that’s not massive success and I’m still hungry to have more.”