Branislav Ivanovic says Chelsea are ready to end Manchester City’s 100 per cent home League record tonight.

Chelsea’s nine-match unbeaten run has given them the confidence they can get something at the Etihad Stadium, where Manuel Pellegrini’s side have won all 11 League outings this term, averaging four goals a game.

And Ivanovic believes a victory for Chelsea would have major repercussions for the title race because it would leave them level on points with the hosts and only two behind leaders Arsenal.

“We have improved massively as a team,” said the Chelsea defender. “We are staying together, we are fighting together, we control the ball well and we know the performances of team-mates better — a lot of small details that we have improved.

“This is the biggest challenge for us this season but I think we are ready for it. We have to be focused. It can be psychologically very important and very good for us and we will try to do everything to stay fighting for the title until the end of the season.”

Chelsea have secured comfortable draws at Manchester United, Tottenham and Arsenal this season but Jose Mourinho, who has been accused of playing negatively in those encounters, is adamant he will set up his team to win.

The manager said: “They score goals [so we have to go looking for goals]. Normally, when your approach is very defensive, if you concede a goal you are in trouble and have to make changes during the games.

“We are going to try to win. We’re not going to change our philosophy. We’re going in a certain direction.

“I want to attack them. I can tell you that. But after 10 minutes, people might say I’m not attacking. If I don’t, it’s because I can’t.”

Mourinho infamously did not select a striker at Old Trafford earlier in the campaign but will not be repeating the defensive tactic.

“I think more about us than them,” he said. “We are not going to play without a striker. Are we going to play with three central defenders because they have two fantastic strikers? No. I want to play with two.”