Cesar Azpilicueta has accepted that nobody is guaranteed a place in the Chelsea starting lineup after he sat out last week's midweek clash against Swansea City.

Antonio Conte opted to select the Spaniard as a substitute for the 1-0 victory, representing the first time that the player has not started a Premier League game since December 2015 and bringing to an end a 74-game run in the first XI.

"It was a nice run. I never thought about the amount of games I played in a row — all 90 minutes," The Mirror quotes the 28-year-old as saying.

"But I would try to beat that mark, and I'm pleased for the number of games because I know it's difficult.

"I want to play every game, but the manager makes the best decisions for the team. It was important we won [against Swansea].

"Sometimes he tries to make the best decision and, from that, all of us we have to go in the same direction."

Azpilicueta will look to make his 15th league appearance of the season when Chelsea travel to take on West Ham United this weekend.