Chelsea goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois claims that his side's late victory over Queens Park Rangers at the weekend could prove to be a crushing blow to the chasing pack.

Thibaut Courtois believes that Chelsea highlighted their title-winning credentials by showing the character needed to snatch all three points against Queens Park Rangers.

The Blues struggled to truly get going in Sunday afternoon's West London derby at Loftus Road, although they made the short journey home with yet another win to their name thanks to Cesc Fabregas's late strike.

Chelsea can now see the finishing line as the end of the season draws nearer, and Courtois, who produced a world-class save to deny QPR's Matty Phillips in the 1-0 win, insists that his side sent a strong message out to their closest rivals for the title.

"I wouldn't say it's decided already, but if we had drawn the game it would have given Arsenal, Manchester United and Manchester City hope to be champions," he is quoted as saying by The Mirror. "By winning it, they can still see we are there on top.

"We haven't dropped points and that's important. We know QPR is a very difficult game and we showed character. It was not our best football but we got the three points. That is always the difference between the champions and the others.

"At home mostly you win everything and then the away games are so important, especially in the Premier League. They're very hard. We have had some great results away and that is what makes us on top of the League."

Jose Mourinho's side, who are now seven points clear at the top with a game in hand, take on Manchester United in their next league outing.