Romelu Lukaku had just seven touches today, a record for a player that has played 90 minutes in the Premier League. Is that down to him or is it a reflection of something to do with the team?
"I'm not so sure if I have a good answer. I don't know what it says. It says he was obviously not involved and could not make a point today. I am not sure if it says so much about us in general."
You had a week to prepare for this game, so does the performance show there is something lacking even with time to prepare?
"I have to stay calm now. How a week like this works, we come from a 30-degree temperature difference, we have six players with a cold from the AC in the plane, we have jet lag from Abu Dhabi, we have no player who slept well in Abu Dhabi because of temperature and the time difference. So it's the same here.
"If you think we have a normal week to prepare I can just tell you it's not like this. We are trying to survive at the moment and you can see.
"There is a lot of pressure going on if you go to a world cup and want to win it for Chelsea. The players put a lot of pressure on themselves and then we haven't played Premier League for four weeks. It's a huge and strange mix of a lot of reasons why, personally, I did not over-expect today performance-wise.
"Then we had some issues in training with Azpi (Cesar Azpilicueta) and Callum Hudson-Odoi went out from training. So this is where we are and it is like this. I know we can play better, that we want to play better.
"We were solid and disciplined defensively. We told the team at half time not to lose faith and to keep on going like in a cup game. Maybe this one chance would come and it would be decisive. Keep on believing, don't do crazy stuff, don't take risks, and allow transition for the opponent.
"The first chance we allowed for Crystal Palace was a clear foul on Christian Pulisic and, ok, the last one in added time we could've defended better, but it is their only chance. It is a clean sheet and it's not the first 1-0 we have."
The team did look jaded but the football authorities want to add more games, can you see that being possible?
"If anybody wants to explain to me how to organise it and how we keep the quality in the game I am open to discussion but it's very hard to see how this should happen. I am a big fan of quality and not quantity. This should answer the question."
You stayed out on the pitch after the game looking up at the stand. What were you looking at?
"The highlights were on the screen. All the chances from us and Crystal Palace. So we had a quick look."
Liverpool are ahead in seven points, can you catch them?
"Unfortunately, we don't play them again [in the league]. I don't know the results but they look strong. It is what it is. They got a huge player in winter to make their squad stronger and it is how it is. But we will not give in.
"I will not tell you that it is impossible to catch them but there's no other way than to improve our game and style. Win game after game, start winning consecutive games. There's no point in looking to City or Liverpool or looking behind. We have enough to deal with and enough to improve. From there we start."
What does it take to win leagues rather than cups, are results like today a start?
"I think every team in a season like this will have games like this, especially between December, January and February where the conditions can really cause huge adversity on top of the strength of the opponent.
"Yes, this is it. If you play this game, which was possible, if we draw, then we would talk about it longer. If you win, you can move on and get a chance to forget it. You can take the positive energy for next time and the next game.
"You don't have to wake up tomorrow thinking too much about what would could do better. This is important at the moment for us.
"It is important to reinstall more freedom and fluidity. We look drained and exhausted. We try hard and I can see we try hard. Everybody is looking for the flow where you try hard but you can't see that you are trying hard when it looks easy. We are looking for it but at the moment it is a struggle.
"It is not a bad thing because everybody wants to be part of it, giving their best. At the moment we struggle, but we win and have a clean sheet so we can keep on going."
