Romelu Lukaku urged Chelsea to “hunt” down leaders Manchester City after pledging to push the champions all the way for the Premier League title.
Lukaku came off the bench at half-time to help Chelsea to a 3-1 win at Aston Villa.
Thomas Tuchel’s side are now level on points with second-placed Liverpool and six points behind City.
Belgium striker Lukaku, 28, said: “We won and now we have to push on and keep chasing. I think we are the hunters now. The last results for us were not the best and now we have to chase. Every game from now until the end of the season we must treat them like finals.”
Jorginho converted a first-half penalty to cancel out Reece James’ own goal.
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Lukaku then scored 11 minutes after coming on with his ninth goal against Aston Villa.
The forward, signed from Inter Milan for £97million in the summer, then won a late penalty after bursting clear which Jorginho despatched.
“I needed a performance like this,” admitted Lukaku, who has four Premier League goals this season. "It has been difficult. Every footballer wants to be on the pitch. The manager has his reasons but I have kept working hard.
“It was good for us to win and for myself personally I am happy with my performance and now I have to push on."
Callum Hudson-Odoi also put in an influential display after Tuchel revealed he played both him and Lukaku more than the medics advised after they both had Covid previously.
The German coach said: “Lukaku was the game-changer. “We took a lot of risks - 45 minutes was more than the medical department recommended."
