Jose Mourinho has admitted that the international break has come at a terrible time for Chelsea as the Premier League champions continue to stutter.
The Blues went down 2-1 to Crystal Palace at Stamford Bridge on Saturday in a defeat that leaves them eight points behind high-flying Manchester City already.
Mourinho, whose side have lost two of their first four games, has two weeks to turn things around, but the Portuguese says that it will be hard when the majority of his squad will not be there to work with.
"Because of the international break, the next match is in 15 days," the 52-year-old told reporters.
"I don't know what happens in 15 days; every player goes away with their national team and I stay for two weeks with four players.
"I can't work, I can't improve. At this moment, I can't do anything during these two weeks to improve my team."
Yesterday's defeat spoiled Mourinho's 100th Premier League game at Stamford Bridge. They travel to Everton when the domestic calendar resumes on September 12.
Shane Callaghan
