Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho has refused to criticise his players following their goalless draw against Sunderland, insisting that they "tried everything to win".

The Blues dropped points in the Premier League for just the third time this season at the Stadium of Light, yet still remain seven points clear at the top of the table, with Southampton and Manchester City not due to play each other until tomorrow afternoon.

Despite his side being denied the chance to extend their lead in the title race even further by a spirited Black Cats outfit, Mourinho remained upbeat following the game.

"It's a point. It was a difficult match. Only one team tried to win from the beginning, the other team didn't," he told Sky Sports News. "They defended a lot and they defended well. Defending a lot and well is not a crime. It is a strategy and it was successful for them.

"We were a bit tired towards the end and we left a bit of space. But I've got nothing negative to say about my team. It's not easy to play here and not easy to play against a side which has had all week to prepare. My players tried everything to win but we couldn't."

Chelsea return to action on Wednesday night when they take on Tottenham Hotspur at Stamford Bridge.