Jose Mourinho: 'Crystal Palace are a better side this season'

Jose Mourinho has said that Crystal Palace are a better side than the team that finished 10th in the Premier League last season.

Alan Pardew, who took over at Selhurst Park midway through the 2014-15 season, guided the side to a top-half finish in their second season back in the top flight.

Ahead of the two London sides' meeting at Stamford Bridge this weekend, the Chelsea manager told reporters: "Crystal Palace are always a difficult opponent and they have even better players than last season and an even better team than last season. A London derby is always a London derby and for them Stamford Bridge is a huge motivation.

"Last season [against Palace] was to win the title, this season it is to try to recover positions we lost with two bad results at the opening of the Premier League."

Palace were beaten 1-0 by Chelsea in May, allowing Mourinho's side to secure the league title.