England v Moldova: Gary Cahill happy with role as heir to John Terry and Rio Ferdinand in Roy Hodgson's defence Yes, a lot of players are like that. It is just the buzz of the game and everything is in your head - good or bad. But you can't keep harping on about something. A day or two after, you evaluate your performance and what you can learn from it. It's important not to make mistakes, but it's not life or death. I am trying to improve as a player and I don't need people to tell me. It's never going to be the case that every time you go out you'll keep a clean sheet and make no mistakes. It's about limiting those mistakes because as a defender you know you'll get punished for them. I've improved as a player, certainly playing with England and Chelsea, with top-class players and managers. I'd like to think the mistakes have become a lot less now. He has talked to his club-mate John Terry, and watched the former England captain in training and in games. I've learnt a lot from him, in terms of his positioning. It's not very often you see him get caught out of position. When I first came into the England set-up I played with him and now I do at club level as well. Cahill does not envisage Terry returning to the England fold. "He's a top player but that decision's been made," said Cahill, before expanding on his influences. It's not just from John Terry, but also from playing in big games, learning about keeping your concentration levels. At Chelsea we sometimes have a lot of possession and don't have to do a lot for long periods, so things like that have improved and positionally I feel I've improved. The new Chelsea manager, Jose Mourinho, has helped him. "I am sure he can improve the team and also individually improve players because he has worked with the best players in the world," said Cahill. He likes you to work hard. Training is intense and there is a certain expectation level he has got and that rubs off on the players. Confidence rubs off on the players and we have started well this season. Hodgson said after the Scotland game that Cahill and Jagielka were now his starting centre-halves. It's flattering if that's what he said. That was great. But it's a transitional period from John Terry and Rio Ferdinand, who had that position for many years and were both top-class performers. So when they go there was always going to be a void and question marks that go with that. "Whenever you join up there's always people looking over your shoulders, people challenging, and you've got to keep your foot down and working hard."" Moldova await, then Ukraine, followed by Montenegro and Poland at home next month. This is the crunch time. We have to get results," added Cahill. Everyone wants to get to the World Cup. This would be the first opportunity for me to play in an international tournament for England so I am really hungry to get there. I am desperate to get there and I hope we can. I look around and see big characters and players who have played in massive games, to win a title or a final. I look at the experienced lads, Frank [Lampard], Ash [Cole], Stevie [Gerrard]. England will need that experience, and no errors at the back, to reach Brazil.