Chelsea manager Antonio Conte has talked up the importance of his side's 2-1 victory over Crystal Palace at Stamford Bridge this evening.
Willian's opener coupled with an own goal from Martin Kelly was enough to see Chelsea return to winning ways following successive defeats, despite Palace giving themselves some late hope when Patrick van Aanholt pulled a goal back.
The result leaves the champions now only two points off the Champions League places in the Premier League table, and Conte was delighted to keep the pressure on Tottenham Hotspur.
"This win was very important, because if you want to fight for a place in the Champions League, it will be very important not to drop points. I think we played really well, especially in the first half," he told reporters at his post-match press conference.
"A lot of parts of the game we created many, many chances to score. It's a pity at the end we conceded the goal and we played three minutes a bit nervous, because you dominate the game and you hope to finish the game more relaxed.
"In this league you must keep the focus for the whole game. In the mind of my players we tried to score the third goal and we had many chances to score. When you have the game in your hands, sometimes you can think that it's easier but I think that today we played a good game with great intensity, with great concentration and a great desire to win the game."
Chelsea are next in action on Wednesday night, when they take on Barcelona in the second leg of their Champions League last-16 tie.
Barney Corkhill
