Chelsea goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois has appeared to dismiss suggestions that the international break and injuries led to the Blues losing to Crystal Palace on Saturday afternoon.

The Eagles went into the game without having recorded a point or goal in seven Premier League games, but Roy Hodgson's side were able to run out 2-1 winners at Selhurst Park, leaving Chelsea down in fifth place in the standings.

Head coach Conte was without the likes of N'Golo Kante and Alvaro Morata, but Courtois insists that the West Londoners only have themselves to blame for suffering a third defeat in this season's top flight.

The 25-year-old is quoted by the London Evening Standard as saying: "The international break is no excuse. We had some injuries, we missed some important players, but that doesn't explain everything.

"We lacked intensity and also our way of football. They started well. The first goal [an own goal from Cesar Azpilicueta] was just bad luck. A ball that bounced from a knee. It was probably just what they needed to get the match in their hands, but we just haven't played our game.

"The second goal was too easy too. Loss of possession, a player [Wilfried Zaha] who could run at two defenders. In the second half, the game just wasn't going our way. We weren't intense enough. Not at our best level."

Chelsea's next league fixtures is against Watford, who currently sit one place above the Blues in the table.