It is a rare game this season when Florent Malouda is not in the side and speaking to the club's own channel, the France international explained the need to put small injuries to the back of the mind.
He has played a part in every league game this season but missed the most recent Champions League match through injury. Back in the frame for subsequent league matches against Liverpool and Fulham, Malouda is expected to start tomorrow against Sunderland.
'My injury is okay, I have to play and it is still improving,' he told Chelsea TV ahead of the weekend's fixtures.
'It came against Blackburn. It was a tackle from behind but I had to carry on because it was a tough game and I was struggling. Until half-time I was okay but after half-time I could feel the ligament and the calf was a bit stiff so l was limping on the pitch and I had to take care of my ankle.'
The Barclays Premier League's joint top scorer with seven goals missed Spartak Moscow at home but recovered to face Liverpool at Anfield despite minimal training.
'It was a period with a lot of games and you have to win those games,' he noted. 'There are always periods in the season when you are not 100 per cent but you have to do the job and play for the points.
'Even if it is harder you have to do it and we are happy with the results at the moment and that is a great satisfaction when you are struggling and you feel pain somewhere. When you have the result it is a good recovery.
'We are talking about some of our players not being 100 per cent at the moment and it is the same for every team. That is why the league is so tough to win and that is why we have to keep on playing and winning. We have a big December coming up and we have to be ready for those big games that are still coming.'