Gary Cahill has thanked the Chelsea supporters for the "fantastic reception" they gave him on his first return to Stamford Bridge since leaving the Blues.
The Crystal Palace defender lined up for the Eagles against his former club as he returned to SW6 for the first time since his seven-year stay at Chelsea came to an end in the summer.
He put in a fine display for the Eagles, which included a superb block to deny Willian on the stroke of half-time as Palace frustrated the Blues for large periods.
Chelsea eventually made the breakthrough, with Tammy Abraham scoring early in the second half, before Christian Pulisic sealed the three points late on with a header from close range.
But Chelsea fans were singing Cahill's name towards the end of the game, with 'There's only one Gary Cahill' ringing out around Stamford Bridge in the closing stages.
Cahill did not respond at the time, but applauded all four sides of the ground after the final whistle, with the 33-year-old speaking after the game about what the occasion meant to him.
“It was a strange game for me, it was always going to be," he said, speaking to football.london .
“I tried not to let things distract me and I wanted to prepare as best as I could and as normally as I could, but it was always going to be a strange game for me.
“It [the reception] was nice, it was a strange game because I want to win football matches, I don’t like losing.
“But I thought it was a good performance and there were a lot of positives for us.
“On the flip side, there was the other side of it for me personally, and I was very honoured and I thought it was a fantastic reception from the fans, and I thank them for that.
“I spent a huge amount of my football career here so I have so many memories from this place.”
