Willian has been inspired to lead Chelsea 's relentless title charge in memory of his mother.
Pacy Brazil international Willian was granted compassionate leave when his mother Donna Zee, died in a Sao Paulo hospital two months ago, aged 57, after battling a brain tumour for more than two-and-a-half years.
She had been through five operations and gruelling chemotherapy treatment. However, the Blues' player of the season in 2015-16 disrupted campaign has not stopped Chelsea equalling their club record of 11 consecutive wins since manager Antonio Conte switched to a 3-4-3 formation at half-time of a 3-0 defeat at Arsenal on September 24.
Although Willian is yet to replicate the form that stood him out last season, he has contributed goals against Burnley, Hull and Manchester City.
Willian said: “It's been a difficult time for me. I lost my mum, and it has been very difficult emotionally.
“She was a very important person in my life and will always be important to me. After she died, I stayed in Brazil a week.
“Since I came back, slowly I have started to feel better and to feel I can play for the team again.
Now I have to think only about the good things and to keep working and keep playing. That’s all I want to do.
“It was difficult for me against Crystal Palace, especially after a long time without playing 90 minutes.
We did well to win again, and now we have to keep doing the same thing again: winning, winning, taking it game by game.”
Chelsea will have to cope without leading scorer Diego Costa and ubiquitous midfielder N’Golo Kante on Boxing Day clash against Bournemouth.
Both picked up their fifth yellow card of the campaign in the 1-0 win at Selhurst Park on Saturday which automatically ruled them out for the visit of the Cherries.
Willian added: “Diego is so important for us because he is playing well and scoring goals, but we have players who can come in and do well.”
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